U.S. CEO's less optimistic about economy

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The leaders of America’s largest companies are turning more cautious about the U.S. economy’s growth prospects.

The Business Roundtable on Wednesday said chief executives expect to spend and hire less over the next six months than they previously planned. The group’s economic outlook index fell to 89.1 in the second quarter from 96.9 in the first quarter — the first decline in nine months.

Top executives are increasingly worried about potentially big changes in U.S. tax and spending policies in 2013— the so-called fiscal cliff — as well as the spillover effects of the financial crisis in Europe.

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