UK business chiefs 'pessimistic about recovery'

Senior managers in Britain are “deeply pessimistic” about the chances of a sustained economic recovery this year, a new study showed today.

A survey of 100 bosses from some of the UK’s biggest companies showed that one in three feared sales and profits would be worse than in 2009.

Fewer than one in five expected a sustained economic recovery this year, with more than a quarter saying it would not happen before 2012.

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants said the findings of its research were “alarming”.