Area Development
Fifty-six percent of chief financial officers surveyed in Bank of America's Annual CFO Outlook survey expect the U.S. economy to grow. The survey of more than 800 U.S. financial executives finds that many expect the economy to grow in 2011, but concerns from the recession linger.

Forty-seven percent of CFOs expect their companies to hire additional staff in 2011. And 64 percent expect revenue growth for their companies this year. R&D and capital expenses are also anticipated to rise.

Executives at manufacturing companies are somewhat less optimistic than other business leaders outside the sector. Forty-seven percent of manufacturing CFOs expect their businesses to expand this year, compared to 58 percent in other sectors.