CEOs See Higher Unemployment, Lower Sales

Washington, DC, April 8, 2009--Chief executives in the U.S. see rising unemployment and slower sales over the next six months, according to the Business Roundtable survey of corporate heads.

The Business Roundtable CEO Economic Outlook Index, which combines CEOs' responses on projected sales, capital spending and employment into an overall index, said 67% of CEOs expect their company sales to decrease and 9% expect no change.

Nearly three-fourths of the CEOs expect a decrease in their employment, with 21% expecting no change. Sixty-six percent of the executives projected U.S. capital spending would continue to slump, with 25% projecting no change.

The first-quarter results remain consistent with what the survey indicated in the fourth quarter - potential growth in the second half of the year would only be an offset to losses from the first half.