US CEOs Register Higher Confidence in Global Economy

In its latest quarterly survey of how confident CEOs are in the global economy, the Young President’s Organization (YPO) reports that US CEOs’ level of confidence rose to 65.1, the highest level since the groups Global Pulse index was first compiled in July 2009. US confidence exceeded the global confidence index reading of 63.8, and topped every regional confidence level except for Latin America. Any score above 50 indicates a positive outlook.

Of the reporting CEOs, 60% said that business conditions had improved in the last six months and 56% expect conditions to continue to improve in the next six months. In the US, sales confidence rose to a record high reading of 71 and expectations for hiring rose to another record high of 61.6. US CEOs also reported a confidence level of 63.0 for higher capital spending.

YPO noted:

Apparently job creation and rising income trump higher prices at the pump.

The survey, conducted during the first two weeks of April, might have seen somewhat different results if it had been conducted in the first week of May, when the report non-farm payroll came in softer than expected and gasoline prices fell.