Business Optimism Up, Says Grant Thornton Index

June 9, 2009 – The confidence of United States business leaders has increased during the past three months, according to the Grant Thornton LLP’s Business Optimism Index, a quarterly confidence measure of U.S. business leaders.

The index rose from 37.6 in February to the pre-recession level of 54.5 in May. Further, the survey found that nearly half (45 percent) expect conditions to improve over the next six months; and more than half (54 percent) believe the recession will end in the first half of 2010.

Business leaders also expressed renewed optimism in business growth and hiring expectations. Read the full report here.