CASRO Members Optimistic for 2010

US trade body CASRO has reported in its 'Year-end State of the Business Survey' that 77% of its members are forecasting increased revenues in 2010; with just 1% believing that revenues will decrease during the year.

CASRO says this optimism is likely to be based on the positive trend in business growth in the 4th quarter of 2009. Survey participants reported an especially strong increase during the quarter, with 71% recording an increase over Q3.

Most are optimistic about economic recovery, and 78% of participating members believe that the recovery has already started or that it will occur this year.

In what CASRO (the Council of American Survey Research Organizations) describes as a 'challenging year' for the US research industry, just 32% of respondents reported that business increased in 2009. More than half (56%) said that business decreased in 2009 compared with 2008.

Some research firms continued to experience a 'sluggish economy' - 15% claimed reduced Q4 quarter revenues, and 14% reported no change.

Web site: www.casro.org .