Large manufacturers expect to increase spending.

A survey of the 1,000 largest U.S. manufacturers shows that they expect to increase their capital spending by 8% this year, up from the 5% increase that they projected last fall, according to the Conference Board. The private business forecasting group said the survey indicated that the firms expected to spend $108 billion this year for new plant and equipment. That would top capital spending of $100 billion reported for 1985, the Conference Board said.