CEOs temper hiring plans

A survey of CEOs from the nation’s 200 largest U.S. corporations found only 29% are planning to increase hiring over the next six months, down from 36% in June. The survey, which garnered 138 responses, found the top execs worried about the impact of budget cuts and tax increases set to begin in 2013, as well as economic slowdowns in Europe and China. While 58% expect their sales to increase over the next half-year, that’s down from 75% in June. The survey was conducted by The Business Roundtable between Aug. 30 and Sept. 14.