U.S. Firms Expect to Boost Capital Spending

U.S. companies expect to increase capital spending by 3% to 4% in the first six months of the year as the economy expands, the National Assn. for Business Economics said.

More than half of corporate planners and financial analysts surveyed -- 51% -- forecast growth in spending on computers and equipment within that range, and 29% said spending might rise 2% to 3%.