Survey: For first time since 2006, more CFOs believe U.S. economy will improve in next six months

For the first time since 2006, more CFOs believe the state of the U.S. economy will improve (51%) rather than remain the same or worsen (49%) during the next six months, according to the Grant Thornton LLP 2014 Spring CFO Survey.

This also marks the highest percentage in the survey’s history, which reflects the insights of more than 1,000 CFOs and other senior financial executives across the United States.

In fall 2013, 40% of respondents said the U.S. economy would improve or significantly improve compared to 45% in the firm’s spring 2013 survey and just 25% in summer 2012.

“While optimism slipped a bit in the fall — likely due to gridlock in Washington at the time — the results of our spring survey and recent improvements in key economic indicators seem to signal that the slow increase in confidence in the U.S. economy might be back on track,” said Stephen Chipman, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton. “However, in order for businesses to feel confident in long-term growth, hiring and investment, our country’s leaders must pave a path to progress and a sustained economic recovery by ensuring stability in fiscal, public and tax policies.”

Increased optimism among CFOs is prevalent throughout the survey results, with 51% of those surveyed predicting that industry financial prospects will improve or significantly improve during the next six months, compared to 44% in the fall. The manufacturing industry’s optimism trended even higher, with 56% of respondents from that sector expecting an improvement in financial prospects during the next six months. This marks an increase from 51% in the fall survey. The number of CFOs who believe the pricing or fees charged by their industry will improve or significantly improve increased to 41%, up from 37% in the fall. For manufacturing executives, this number increased to 44%, up from 39% in the fall.

According to the survey findings, 46% say their company’s headcount will increase or significantly increase during the next year, up from 40% in spring 2013. In addition, 68% of CFOs expect the average cost of an employee’s salary to increase during the next 12 months, revealing no change from the fall, but up from 65% one year ago.