CEO Confidence Increases, The Conference Board Reports
08 Jan, 2013
The Conference Board’s Measure of CEO Confidence, which decreased in the third quarter, improved in the fourth quarter. The measure now reads 46, up from 42 in the third quarter. A reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses.
“CEO Confidence improved in the final quarter of 2012, despite the cloud of fiscal uncertainty,” says Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “However, CEO sentiment remains pessimistic by historical standards. Regarding inflation expectations for 2013, CEOs expect moderate price increases.”
Fifteen percent of CEO’s claim conditions have improved compared to six months ago, up from 9 percent last quarter. Thirteen percent of these leaders say conditions in their industries have improved; the number was 14 percent in the third quarter.
In regard to the short term, 23 percent of business leaders believe economic conditions will improve in the next six months; up from 12 percent in the third quarter. Within their own industries, 19 percent of CEOs believe there will be improvement; up from 15 percent in the third quarter.
What’s more, CEOs expect moderate price increases in 2013.
The survey was conducted from mid-November to mid-December 2012.
For complete details, visit The Conference Board.
Illustration by renjith krishnan at Free Digital Photos.net
