U.S. CEOs expect increased employment, sales

CEOs of America’s leading companies anticipate increased capital expenditures, sales and employment in the next 6 months, according to the results of Business Roundtable’s second quarter 2010 CEO Economic Outlook Survey. The Business Roundtable is an association of CEOs of leading corporations, representing a combined workforce of more than 12 million employees and nearly $6 trillion in revenues.

Based on survey results, 79% of the association’s member CEOs anticipate sales will increase in the next 6 months, which is up slightly from 73% in the 1st quarter; 17% expect sales to remain the same, compared with 23% in the 1st quarter, and about 4% expect sales to decline, which is about even with 1st quarter results.

During the next 6 months, 43% of CEOs are projecting higher spending. This is lower than the 47% for projected increased spending during the 1st quarter. 50% expect spending to remain about the same, up slightly from 46% from the 1st quarter. Only 7% project a decline, which is about the same as 1st quarter results.

On employment, 39% of CEOs expect to add employees, notably more than the 29% who did in the 1st quarter. 43% expect employment to remain steady, down from about 50% in the 1st quarter, and 17% project lower unemployment, down from the 1st quarter’s 21%.