U.S. companies, though optimistic about economy, still won’t hire

The economic outlook from U.S. companies is the rosiest it’s been in a while, with more expecting stable revenue and prices. But don’t expect that to translate into more hiring.

Nearly two-thirds of firms said they won’t change their employment levels over the next six months, according to a survey from the National Assn. for Business Economics. Good thing, then, that the unemployment rate is at 8.5% -- its lowest point in nearly three years.

More people than in recent months -- nearly two in 10 -- said their sales fell in the past quarter, though none of those companies were in the finance, insurance or real estate sectors. Materials costs rose for more than 30% of firms.

But survey respondents were more optimistic on several metrics than they have been in previous months.

Nearly two-thirds expect the gross domestic product to grow more than 2% from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the same period in 2012. About the same number of companies said they weren’t bothered by the European debt crisis or by the lack of a deficit reduction plan at home.

More companies said they’ve stepped up their capital spending, while none expect prices to change by more than 5% over the next quarter, according to the survey, which was conducted between Dec. 15 and Jan. 5.

That’s far cheerier than the results of another recent survey, which saw 71% of Harvard Business School graduates predicting a future slump in the country’s competitiveness.

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