With regard to the overall economy, 47 percent think the condition of the U.S. economy will stay the same over the next six months. Four in ten respondents think their own company’s financial prospects will improve by March, and 17 percent expect them to get worse.
Over the next six months, 42 percent of respondents expect their company to increase prices, while 51 percent expect no change. The senior executives ranked employee benefits as their number one pricing pressure concern (55%), with energy pricing pressures selected as a close second (40%).
|
Have you seen credit costs increase? |
|
Yes |
55% |
|
No |
45% |
|
Is credit more difficult to come by now than one year ago? |
|
Yes |
64% |
|
No |
36% |
|
Have you had to return to bank credit because you no longer can access alternative financing structures? |
|
Yes |
14% |
|
No |
86% |
|
Over the next six months, do you expect the U.S. economy to: |
|
Improve |
22% |
|
Remain the same |
47% |
|
Get worse |
31% |
|
Over the next six months, do you expect your company's financial prospects to: |
|
Improve |
40% |
|
Remain the same |
43% |
|
Get worse |
17% |
|
Over the next six months, do you expect prices or fees charged by your company to: |
|
Improve |
42% |
|
Remain the same |
51% |
|
Get worse |
7% |
|
About which type(s) of pricing pressure are you most concerned? (Respondents could select more than one option.) |
|
Employee benefits (e.g., health care, pensions) |
55% |
|
Energy |
40% |
|
Raw materials (e.g., food, metals) |
39% |
|
Insurance |
17% |
|
Other |
12% |
|
Commercial property |
5% |
|
Over the next six months, do you expect your headcount to: |
|
Increase |
30% |
|
Remain the same |
47% |
|
Decrease |
23% |
