Trendsetter Barometer™ business outlook — Private companies' revenue forecasts continue to outpace US GDP growth projections

PwC's quarterly Private Company Trendsetter Barometer tracks the growth expectations, investment focus, and economic views of privately held US growth businesses. This quarter's report incorporates the views of 225 chief executive officers (CEOs/CFOs): 129 in the product sector and 96 in the service sector.

Survey highlights

  • Private companies' overall assessment of the US and world economies remains mixed, though optimism is on the rise.

    Uncertainty prevails in Trendsetter companies' overall assessment of the US and world economies.

  • Most private companies (75%) continue to expect revenue growth for the next year, despite ongoing concern about lack of demand (66%).

    Most private companies (75%) continue to expect revenue growth for the next year, despite ongoing concern about lack of demand (66%).

  • Private companies that sell abroad project a higher growth rate than their domestic-only peers (6.9.% vs 5.3%) and are more inclined to increase operational spending.

    Private companies that sell abroad project a higher growth rate than their domestic-only peers (6.9.% vs 5.3%) and are more inclined to increase operational spending.

  • Private companies plan a 3.4% increase in their composite average workforce, up from 1.8% a year ago and the highest since the third quarter of 2008.

    Trendsetter companies plan a 2.8% increase in their composite average workforce — up from 1.6% in the third quarter and the highest since before the economic downturn.

  • DIG DEEPER: See what fast-growth Trendsetter private companies are doing differently from their peers.


    DIG DEEPER: See what fast-growth Trendsetter private companies are doing differently from their peers.

 

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