Over 40% of CEOs across globe confident that economy will improve

Confidence in the recovery of the global economy grew last year, with 44% of international business leaders feeling economic conditions will improve in 2014; more than twice as many at the end of 2012.

The latest annual survey of global chief executives, by professional services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, also shows that half of CEOs, worldwide, plan to increase their staff sizes during the coming year.

Just shy of 40% of respondents said they are “very confident” of their company’s ability to grow revenues. Confidence surrounding short-term revenue growth was most pronounced amongst Middle Eastern CEOs, while their counterparts in western Europe are the most confident about short-term global economic prospects.