CEO confidence at six-year high

Confidence in the economy among business leaders has hit its highest level for six years, according to a new study. The majority of chiefs executive are forecasting revenue and profit growth for their business and foreign multinationals planning to increase investment here.

According to professional services giant, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2013 CEO Pulse Survey, published yesterday, 43% of Irish-based CEOs are planning capital investment, compared to 33% last year. More than half expect their revenues and profits to grow in the coming year, and over 30% of export-orientated firms plan to increase their export volumes by more than 10% in the next three to five years.

Most CEOs are also planning expansion in the domestic economy and 84% of heads of foreign-owned multinationals here are planning to increase, or hold, their investment in Ireland.