The shift in confidence is evident in T&RM’s semiannual survey of CFOs, treasurers and controllers on the outlook for the economy. Coming in at an average score of 71, on a scale of 1 to 100, confidence about the next six months is higher than at any point since late 2001. That compares with an average of 62.4 from the last survey. Also much stronger than in past years’ surveysis the percentage of financial executives who say they expect their company’s capital spending to increase in the next six months (43%). The same questions drew a 28.5% average response i nthe last survey. The percentage of executives who said their company’s operating margins should grow in the next year rose to 67% from 60.2% from the prior survey.

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