CEO Confidence index Feb 2015

A survey of 713 small business CEOs found that optimism among small

firms has remained virtually unchanged for the past four months, and

has been at its highest level since the survey began in June 2012. The

WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index was 115.5 in the

February 2015 survey. This reading is identical to January’s reading and

nearly equal to December’s 115.0 and November’s 115.6. The steadfast

optimism indicates that small business CEOs hold a deep sense of

confidence about prospects for the U.S. economy.

The small changes in the components of the Confidence Index pale

in comparison to the stability of optimism, which remains at record

high levels. This renewed sense of confidence has not wavered despite

uneven news on the domestic and global economies. Nor has it yielded

to weather-induced losses due to the harsh winter as it did last year.

Overall, the data indicate that small businesses expect a stronger

economy, and as a consequence, a tighter labor market during the year

ahead. This will result in continue upward pressures on wages as well as

draw more idled workers into the labor force.

3q14 small business confidence

3q14 small business confidence detail

Optimism among small firms in the September survey rose to its

second highest level since the survey first began in June of 2012. The

WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index was 110.8 in the

September 2014 survey, up from 109.8 in August and posting a 5.2%

gain from last year’s 105.3. The steady improving level of confidence in

recent months is certainly good news, but the more important finding

is that since the start of the year small firms never lost sight of the

underlying strength in the economy.

3q2014 Vistage CEO Confidence Index TJK

3q2014 Vistage CEO confidence index infographic

Confidence among CEOs reached its highest level in two years,

finally achieving a lift-off from its favorable holding pattern in the

last three quarters. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 103.4 in

the 3rd quarter 2014 survey, up from 101.0 in the 2nd quarter and

97.8 in last year’s 3rd quarter, and the highest level since 105.1 was

recorded in the 1st quarter of 2012. There is no greater indication

of confidence in future prospects than a firm’s willingness to

increase their fixed investment spending and to expand their

workforce. On both counts, firms reported the most expansive

plans since 2006.

WSJ – Vistage-Infographic-0814 TJK

WSJ-Vistage CEO-Survey Summ-0814

Optimism among small firms rose to its highest level since the

start of 2014, with the August reading the second highest since

the survey first began in June of 2012. The WSJ/Vistage Small

Business CEO Confidence Index was 109.8 in the August 2014

survey, up from 107.7 in July and above last year’s 104.2. The

August reading was only slightly below the peak of 111.5 set

in January 2014. All component questions improved in August,

indicating broadly improving conditions. Of particular note was

that small firms were more willing than any time in the past two

years to expand their productive capacity by increasing their

fixed investment expenditures. Plans to add to their workforce

rebounded as did anticipated revenues.

Download the complete report here: 3q2013 Vistage CEO

Confidence Index

2q2013 Vistage Ceo Conf Kinane

CEOs held optimistic views about the overall economy as well

as for their own firms in

the Q2 2013 Vistage CEO Confidence

Index.