For the second consecutive quarter, optimism about the nations’s economic outlook among US business leaders continued to rise, according to a recent survey conducted by the consulting firm Grant Thornton.
In the second quarter of 2014 optimism among US business leaders rose 8% to a net balance of 74%, the highest its been since 2004. The increase in optimism is consistent with the economic mood globally, according to Grant Thornton CEO Stephen Chipman.
“Following a strong first quarter, business leaders across the globe continue to show levels of confidence we have not seen in more than a decade,” Chipman said in a news release. “The increase in optimism, coupled with recent improvements in key economic indicators may finally provide business leaders the confidence to invest in their businesses, create jobs and grow their operations in the coming months.”
For the first time since 2006, more CFOs believe the state of the US economy will improve (51%) rather than remain the same or worsen (49%) during the next six months. This marks the highest percentage in the survey’s history.
The survey also found economic optimism overseas. Among business leaders in the G& countries, optimism rose to a record high net 53%, up from 28% in the fourth quarter of 2013. In the European Union, 79% of German business leaders were optimistic, 80% of those in the UK and 84% of those in Ireland.
Optimism in China however, has dropped. Chinese business optimism decreased to a net balance of 30%, an 8% decrease from the first quarter of this year. Still, it was 4% higher than the Q2 2013. In Japan, optimism dropped to a net 5%, down from 17% during the first quarter of this year.
The firm polled 3,300 business leaders in 45 countries.