With 41% of respondents to Treasury & Risk‘s Biannual Economic Confidence Survey saying they expect the Fed to lower short-term rates by 50 basis points or more by the end of 2007, it’s safe to say the consensus among finance executives is for a softer year. Just how much of a slowdown is likely to depend, to a large extent, on how severe the biggest threats to the U.S. economy–scaled-back consumer spending and volatile oil prices–turn out to be. The survey of 201 large company CFOs, treasurers and controllers was taken between Dec. 11 and Dec. 19 2006.

Click here to view the Biannual Economic Confidence Survey

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