CPA Financial Executives' Outlook Swings to Optimism For First Time in Two Years, According to AICPA-UNC Quarterly Economic Survey

Expectation for U.S. Recovery Remains Gradual Through 2012

DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Certified Public Accountant executives in business, industry and government are optimistic for the first time in two years as business leaders gain confidence that improvements in the U.S. economy will translate to better results for their organizations, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School's Quarterly Economic Outlook Survey.

Measures of optimism versus pessimism among CPA financial executives registered a combined 28 percentage-point swing toward a more positive outlook, the largest shift in sentiment since the fourth quarter of 2007, when the AICPA-UNC Quarterly Economic Outlook turned sharply negative as the U.S. economy headed into a recession.

"Our latest survey shows a significant shift toward optimism among our CPA members serving in executive positions in business, industry and government," said Carol Scott, AICPA vice president for business, industry and government. "These results should be taken as a very positive indicator. As financial executives charged with running companies and meeting payrolls, CPAs are on the frontlines in this economy and their views on the direction of business conditions are well-informed and sophisticated."

"Corporate optimism and expansion expectations continue to improve and are close to levels last seen two and a half years ago, prior to the start of the recession," said UNC Kenan-Flagler Accounting Professor Mark Lang, Ph.D. "Optimism is broad-based with only construction remaining pessimistic overall, but even there we are seeing improvements. Spending and employment are beginning to expand, suggesting the basis for a gradual but sustainable recovery."

Fifty-one percent of survey respondents expressed more confidence about the prospects for their own organizations, an increase from 41 percent in February. At the same time, the number of CPAs who are pessimistic about their own organizations dropped to 20 percent, down from 24 percent in the prior quarter.

Forty percent of CPA executives expressed optimism about the broader U.S. economy in the latest survey, a sharp increase from 25 percent who were optimistic in February. Twenty-five percent were pessimistic about the economy, down from 38 percent earlier this year.

As optimism has returned so have concerns about inflation. Forty-two percent of CPA financial executives are now concerned about the impacts of inflation on their business in the next six months. Last quarter only 32 percent were concerned.

Pessimism continues to be strongest among companies in the construction, real estate and healthcare sectors. While the construction sector remained the most pessimistic with 36 percent of respondents expressing pessimism, this still was a marked improvement from the first quarter when 50 percent of respondents were pessimistic. Optimism was most prevalent in the agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale, transportation and warehousing industry segments, along with the technology sector.

Sixty-three percent of respondents believe U.S. business conditions will not return to pre-recession levels until 2012 or later. Thirty-one percent said conditions would return to pre-recession levels in 2011, and 2 percent said activity would rebound this year.

The AICPA/UNC Kenan-Flagler Economic Outlook Survey includes two indices, the Corporate Expansion Index (CEI) and Corporate Optimism Index (COI), that consolidate expectation and optimism trends for the economy and for respondents' own organizations. Both indices were positive in this quarter, continuing an upward trend begun in April 2009.

Methodology

The fourth quarter AICPA-UNC Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey was conducted via an online questionnaire from April 13 through May 2 and included 1,768 qualified responses from CPAs who hold leadership positions, such as chief financial officers or controllers in their companies. The overall margin of error was less than plus-or-minus 3 percentage points. More information and full poll results are available online at: www.aicpa.org/InterestAreas/BusinessIndustryAndGovernment/NewsAndPublications/Pages/EconomicOutlookSurveys.aspx

About UNC Kenan-Flagler

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School is known for innovative research and extraordinary learning experiences. Its commitment to developing socially responsible, results driven leaders distinguishes its programs, which educate people at every stage of their careers. UNC Kenan-Flagler prepares business leaders to manage successfully in the global business environment through its Master of Accounting, MBA, MBA for Executives, undergraduate BSBA, Ph.D. and Executive Development programs. The Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise helps business and government tackle problems with impact on society. http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/

About the AICPA

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (www.aicpa.org) is the national, professional association of CPAs, with more than 360,000 CPA members in business and industry, public practice, government, education, student affiliates and international associates. It sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination. The AICPA publishes the website www.IFRS.com to inform members and the public about international accounting standards.

The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Durham, N.C., Ewing, N.J. and Lewisville, Texas.

SOURCE American Institute of Certified Public Accountants