(openPR) - Los Angeles, Dec. 3, 2010 – U.S. business leaders are once again optimistic, according to Grant Thornton LLP’s most recent Business Optimism Index, based on a quarterly survey of U.S. business leaders. Nearly half (47%) believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months, compared with just 34% in August. The job outlook is also improved, with 43% saying that their company plans to increase staff in the next six months (up from 38%). The Index itself is up 4.6 points to 63.0.

Business leaders are also optimistic about their own businesses, with 79% feeling optimistic about their companies’ growth over the next six months.

With regard to the recession, business leaders are split as to whether there will be a double-dip recession (52%) or not (48%).
OVERALL Business Optimism Index:
5/2009--54.5
11/2009--60.4
2/2010--58.8
5/2010--67.6
8/2010--58.4
11/2010--63.0

Believe U.S. economy will improve:
5/2009--45%
11/2009--53%
2/2010--43%
5/2010--63%
8/2010--34%
11/2010--47%

Believe U.S. economy will get worse:

5/2009--13%
11/2009--13%
2/2010--12%
5/2010--6%
8/2010 --16%
11/2010--10%

Very or somewhat optimistic about own business:

5/2009--62%
11/2009--79%
2/2010 --74%
5/2010 --87%
8/2010 --76%
11/2010--79%

Very or somewhat pessimistic about own business:
5/2009--38%
11/2009--21%
2/2010--27%
5/2010--13%
8/2010--24%
11/2010--21%

Plan to increase staff:

5/2009--20%
11/2009--30%
2/2010--31%
5/2010--44%
8/2010--38%
11/2010--43%

Plan to decrease staff:

5/2009--30%
11/2009--18%
2/2010--18%
5/2010--12%
8/2010 --15%
11/2010--15%

Are you concerned about a double-dip recession?

Yes 52% No 48%

About the Grant Thornton Business Optimism Index
The Grant Thornton Business Optimism Index was started in 2002 and is a quarterly survey of U.S. business leaders, comprising three key economic measures:

• U.S. economy: Business leaders’ perceptions of whether the U.S. economy will improve, remain the same or deteriorate in the next six months.
• Business growth: Business leaders’ perceptions about the growth of their own business over the next six months.
• Hiring expectations: Whether business leaders expect the number of people their company employs to increase, remain the same or decrease in the next six months.

The survey was conducted Nov. 3-16, 2010, with 362 senior executives from various industries across the country responding. To see the complete survey findings, please visit www.GrantThornton.com/BOI.

###

About Grant Thornton LLP
The people in the independent firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients in more than 100 countries. Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global audit, tax and advisory organizations. Grant Thornton International Ltd and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership, as each member firm is a separate and distinct legal entity.
In the U.S., visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.GrantThornton.com.

Carl Terzian Associates
Jim Goyjer jim.goyjer@carlterzianpr.com
(310) 207-3361
12400 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90025