CEOs See GDP Growth at 2.8% in 2015: Survey

Chief executive officers see 2.8% gross domestic product growth this year, slightly less than consensus estimates, but a 0.4-point increase from their read last quarter, according to the Business Roundtable's first quarter 2015 CEO Economic Outlook Survey published Tuesday.

The CEO Economic Outlook Index, a composite of CEO plans for the next six months of sales, capital spending and employment, rose to 90.8 in the first quarter from 85.1 last quarter. The long-term average of the index is 80.5.

"The U.S. economy and the job outlook are starting the year in a stronger position than 2014," said Randall Stephenson, Chairman of Business Roundtable. "Almost half of CEOs plan to increase capital spending in the next six months, which shows that passage of tax-extender legislation late last year gave some companies greater confidence to invest more in the United States."

In a special question, CEOs said increased international trade would result in more U.S. hiring.

CEO expectations for sales, investment and hiring increased 7.4 points, 9.2 points and 0.4 points, respectively.

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