A new survey showed that chief financial officers have a more positive outlook on the economy and hiring.
Forty-eight percent said the economy will improve over the next six months, according a Grant Thornton LLP survey of 318 CFOs and senior comptrollers conducted March 22 to April 6. That figure is up from 30% when a similar survey was conducted six months earlier.
Concern among the respondents grew over inflation as 50% said their company intends to raise prices for its goods, up from 31% six months earlier and 24% one year ago.
Thirty-nine percent said they intend to increase head count, which is up from 28% six months earlier. Fifty-four percent are optimistic about their own company over the next six months, up from 46% since the last survey.
Regarding the Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster, 94% said it will impact the U.S. economy and the majority believed that Japan will not fully recover for at most, three to five years.
