CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Optimism for the nation’s economic outlook among U.S. business leaders reached its highest level since 2004, according to the latest data from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), a survey of more than 3,300 business leaders in 45 countries. In first quarter 2014, optimism among U.S. business leaders rose 30 percentage points to a net balance of 66 percent.
The increase in optimism in the U.S. economy is consistent with what is occurring in other global markets. Net 44 percent of businesses globally are optimistic of the economic outlook. This marks the highest level since 2007, and a 17 percentage-point increase from the previous quarter. Optimism in China, the world’s second largest economy, increased to a net balance of 38 percent, up from 22 percent in fourth quarter 2013. Japanese business optimism increased 11 percentage points to a net balance of 17 percent. BRIC business optimism rose from a net balance of 22 percent to 40 percent, driven by a dramatic 26 percentage-point increase in Brazil. Optimism in Brazil rose to a net balance of 36 percent, up from 10 percent in fourth quarter 2013. Business sentiment in India improved to net 89 percent, up 20 percentage points from last quarter.
In addition, while there has been marginal improvement in the United States regarding plans to invest in plants and machinery (net 43 percent), plans to invest in research and development in 2014 (net 17 percent) has remained flat. Encouragingly, a net balance of just 29 percent of U.S. business leaders cite economic uncertainty as a constraint on their ability to grow their operations in the next 12 months, down from 37 percent in the previous quarter.
“Following our nation’s political leaders reaching a short-term budget agreement late last year and as economic indicators continue to show improvement, the large increase in optimism among business executives could be indicative that we have moved into the first prolonged period of economic stability since the financial crisis,” said Stephen Chipman, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton LLP. “However, our country’s business leaders will continue to require consistent signs of stability in fiscal, public and tax policies to feel confident about their decisions, including investing in their businesses, creating jobs and growing their operations.”
IBR data reveals an improvement in sentiment about most areas of business performance and stability. U.S. profitability expectations improved eight percentage points to a net 60 percent of business leaders expecting to see profits climb in the next year, following a two percentage-point decrease in the previous quarter. Hiring expectations in the United States increased to a net 45 percent, up seven percentage points from last quarter. Revenue expectations in the United States decreased to a net balance of 64 percent, just a slight decline from 65 percent the previous quarter and a substantial increase from net 46 percent a year ago.
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Notes to editors
The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) provides insight into the views and expectations of more than 13,000 businesses per year across 45 economies. This unique survey draws upon 22 years of trend data for most European participants and 10 years for many non-European economies. For more information, please visit: www.internationalbusinessreport.com
Data collection
Data collection is managed by Grant Thornton International Ltd's core research partner – Experian. Questionnaires are translated into local languages with each participating country having the option to ask a small number of country specific questions in addition to the core questionnaire. Fieldwork is undertaken on a quarterly basis. The research is carried out primarily by telephone. For percentages not identified as a percentage of respondents, the net percent balance is reported as the proportion of companies reporting they are optimistic/the trend has increased less those reporting they are pessimistic/trend has decreased.
Sample
IBR is a survey of both listed and privately held businesses. The data for this release are drawn from interviews with more than 3,300 businesses from all industry sectors across the globe conducted during January and February 2014. The target respondents are chief executive officers, managing directors, chairmen or other senior executives.
About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is one of the world's leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward looking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work.
"Grant Thornton" refers to the brand under which the Grant Thornton member firms provide assurance, tax and advisory services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms, as the context requires. Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. GTIL and each member firm is a separate legal entity. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL does not provide services to clients. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another's acts or omissions.
