More than half of business leaders expect moderate growth in 2017, according to a survey released by Express Employment Professionals.

Business leaders were asked, “What are your business performance predictions for 2017?” Responses include:

• We will see moderate growth: 58%, up from 50% in a similar survey for 2016
• We expect to see exponential growth: 21%, up from 16%
• We will remain steady, but unchanged: 14%, down from 19%
• We will likely experience a decrease in business activity: 5%, down from 13%
• Other: 2%, down from 3%

“This shows business leaders are overall more optimistic at the end of 2016 than they were at the conclusion of 2015,” said Express CEO Bob Funk. “Fewer are predicting a decrease in business activity, while more are predicting exponential growth.”

The survey was conducted via an Express Employment Professionals blog for executives and business leaders and received 133 responses.