Half of U.S. companies expected to increase revenues in the II semester

Nearly half of U.S. companies forecast that their earnings in the first half of 2009 demonstrated the limit of the fall and will continue to grow, shows a poll conducted by the National Association for Business Economics (National Association for Business Economics, NABE).

About 45% of respondents believed that the level of revenue has already reached the lower limit, while 41% expect the decline will continue until the end of the year, reported Bloomberg.

In doing so, the prospects for the expansion of state employees, according to the poll, generally seen as very bleak. Only 18% of the respondents suggested that the staff will grow in the next semester.

A recession in the United States is gradually decreasing, - noted HIS Global Insight economist and chairman of NABE Profile Sara Johnson, adding that the poll showed some signs of immediate recovery.

results consistent with recent data on manufacturing and the housing market in the United States, which also showed stabilization, despite the rise in unemployment. Previously, economists polled NABE, predicted that economic growth in the second half would be 1.5%. Over the past four quarters of the U.S. economy is declining.

Index of employment, according to the survey, NABE, rose to minus 10 points at the end of June to minus 17 points in April, reflecting an improvement in forecasting recruitment. The percentage of companies forecasting a further reduction in the state was 11%, which corresponds to index April.

Against the backdrop of the highest level of unemployment in the country for 26 years (9.5% in June), the company saw no need to raise wages to employees. The pay index fell to minus 8 points, which is the minimum level from the beginning of settlement in 1982.

forecast cost of new equipment also turned out to be less gloomy than before. 26% of respondents expect the volume of investment over the next 12 months will increase in April of this expected 21% in January - 16%.