Of the 94 companies surveyed, 36.1 percent forecast an increase in earnings, while 26.4 percent expected a decline, the Ebene-based group said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. The survey was conducted between November and January and included companies with a combined workforce of 30,000 people.
“The outlook for 2011 remains positive,” the federation said. “45.9 percent of respondents expect higher demand for their goods and services in the next 12 months.”