CEOs of the nation’s fastest-growing companies are less optimistic about the economy than they’ve been in 16 years, according to a new survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The “Trendsetter Barometer” of 255 CEOs for the first quarter of the year shows that only 26 percent have a positive view of the economy. The previous record low was last quarter’s 29 percent. The number of CEOs with a positive outlook on the economy has fallen 59 percent over the last year.
Respondents were still positive about the growth of their own companies, with 77 percent expecting to grow over the next year. More than three quarters also project increased spending, although that number is down from 77 percent last quarter.
