Nation’s CEOs See Similar Pace of Growth

A majority of leaders of the largest U.S. companies expect the economy to expand at about the same pace as last year and say federal tax cuts proposed by the White House would spur growth, a survey of the 180-member Business Council found.

About 72% of the chief executives polled said they expect the economy to grow at about 2.4%, the same as 2002. At the same time, 56% said they believe the economy has pulled out of recession.

Growth in profits will be about the same as or lower than last year, three-quarters of the respondents said.