Compared with three months ago, top executives of large U.S.-based multinational business are far more optimistic about the near-term future of the U.S. and world economies, according to a surveyed released Feb. 27 by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In the most recent PwC survey, 70% of the 135 CFOs and managing directors interviewed were optimistic about the U.S. economy's prospects for the next 12 months. Just 50% were three months ago. In the latest survey, 70% were optimistic about the world economy's prospects during the next 12 months, up from 54% three months ago.
However, there are signs of caution in the latest PwC polling. More than half the executives -- 51% -- continue to see rising energy prices as potential threats to company revenue growth. And at 9%, their estimate of revenue growth is more than half a percentage point below the 9.6% of a year ago.
