PITTSBURGH, April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Optimism is running at historic highs in all categories evaluated by The PNC Financial Services Group in the 15-year history of the PNC Economic Outlook, a semiannual telephone survey of small and medium-size business owners and executives. In results released today, exactly half of respondents describe their outlook for the national economy as optimistic in spring 2018, a significant increase compared to the fall 2017 survey (29 percent).

Across-the-board record optimism is reflected by the 85 percent of all respondents who select a positive emotion to describe how they feel about the business climate during the next six months: hope (39 percent), enthusiasm (37 percent) and joy (9 percent). This is a moderate increase from the fall of 2016 (pre-election) when 74 percent of respondents reported positive emotions. The number feeling fear, despair or anger remains in the single digits.

“Small businesses are a key source of economic activity and employment, and owners’ perceptions can be a good indicator of what’s to come,” said Gus Faucher, chief economist of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. “The overall findings from our biannual survey, which began in 2003, confirm that the U.S. economic expansion, now almost nine years old and the second-longest in U.S. history, will continue throughout 2018.”

In addition, six out of 10 business leaders (61 percent) expect demand for their company’s products or services to increase in the next six months, up from 51 percent in fall 2017. While a majority (51 percent) report a good balance between the volume of business and their capacity to handle that volume, 14 percent report having more work than they can handle without adding some capacity.

Key survey findings include:

Wage Watchers—Back in the Fast Lane: Hiring and compensation registered some of the largest increases compared to fall 2017. Wages have remained stuck in the slow lane while the U.S. economy zipped along in the fast lane. Finally, there are signs that wage growth may be accelerating this spring: half (49 percent) of business leaders anticipate increasing their employee compensation in the next six months (compared to 37 percent in fall 2017). This is the highest rate since fall 2007 (51 percent) and good news for the American workforce. In addition, one-third (32 percent) expect to add full-time staff (25 percent in fall 2017) and 25 percent note plans to hire part-time staff, a significant bump compared to 15 percent in fall 2017.

Help (Really) Wanted: Four out of 10 (40 percent) say it is harder to hire qualified employees today compared to six months ago, with the biggest challenge being lack of experience or skill. One-fifth (22 percent) of respondents attribute the lack of hiring to doing more work in other ways like automation, artificial intelligence or outsourcing, representing a significant increase compared to 14 percent in fall 2017.

“With support from tax cuts and an increase in federal spending, U.S. economic growth will accelerate in 2018 and the labor market will continue to tighten,” said Faucher. “To prevent the economy from overheating, the Federal Open Market Committee will continue to gradually raise the federal funds rate throughout 2018.”

Money (That’s What I Want): Nearly seven out of 10 (69 percent) small and mid-size business leaders anticipate increased sales during the next six months, a significant increase from the fall. Two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents expect increased profits, exceeding the prior high (59 percent) set in spring 2005. Most significant is the jump in the number of business leaders who expect to charge their own customers higher prices (41 percent, up from 29 percent in fall 2017), citing increasing business and favorable market conditions as the primary reasons.

A digital package containing national and regional survey results is available at http://pnc.mediaroom.com/digital-packages.                 

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

Methodology
The PNC Economic Outlook survey was conducted by telephone from January 12 to March 6, 2018, among 500 businesses within the United States with annual revenues of $100,000 to $250 million. Sampling error for the national results is +/- 4.4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted by Artemis Strategy Group (www.ArtemisSG.com), a communications strategy research firm specializing in brand positioning and policy issues. The firm, headquartered in Washington D.C., provides communications research and consulting to a range of public and private sector clients.

This report was prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as specific advice or recommendations. Any reliance upon this information is solely and exclusively at your own risk.

CONTACT:

Amy Vargo
(412) 762-1535
[email protected] 

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SOURCE PNC Financial Services Group

ATLANTA, April 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced that Stephanie Linnartz has been nominated for election to its Board of Directors at its 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.

Linnartz is executive vice president and global chief commercial officer of Marriott International, the world’s largest hospitality company, where she oversees consumer interaction with some of the world’s most recognized hotel brands. Linnartz is responsible for all aspects of brand management, sales, marketing, revenue management, digital, distribution, consumer insights and innovation, as well as information technology worldwide.

“Stephanie’s customer experience expertise will be a tremendous asset as we enhance our One Home Depot customer experience,” said Craig Menear, The Home Depot chairman, CEO and president.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,284 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2017, The Home Depot had sales of $100.9 billion and earnings of $8.6 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

MEXICO CITY, April 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FIBRA Prologis (BMV: FIBRAPL 14), a leading owner and operator of Class-A logistics real estate in Mexico, will host a webcast and conference call with senior management to discuss first quarter results, current market conditions and future outlook on Friday, April 20, at 9:00 a.m. CT/10:00 a.m. ET.

To access a live broadcast of the call, dial +1 877 256 7020 (toll-free from the United States and Canada), 01 800 926 9146 (toll-free from Mexico) or +1 973 409 9692 from all other countries and enter conference code 93296071. A live webcast can be accessed at www.fibraprologis.com in the Investor Relations section April 20.

A telephonic replay will be available April 20 – April 27 at +1 855 859 2056 from the U.S. and Canada or at +1 404 537 3406 from all other countries using conference code 93296071 and security code 31833. The replay will be posted in the Investor Relations section of the FIBRA Prologis website.

ABOUT FIBRA PROLOGIS

FIBRA Prologis is a leading owner and operator of Class-A logistics real estate in Mexico. As of December 31, 2017, FIBRA Prologis comprised 196 logistics and manufacturing facilities in six industrial markets in Mexico totaling 34.6 million square feet (3.2 million square meters) of gross leasable area.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which FIBRA Prologis operates, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management.  Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact FIBRA Prologis financial results. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature.  All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, acquisition activity, development activity, disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt and financial position, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties, (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties, (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust (“FIBRA”) status and tax structuring, (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings, (vii) risks related to our investments (viii) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters, and (ix) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the “Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores” and  the Mexican Stock Exchange by FIBRA Prologis under the heading “Risk Factors.” FIBRA Prologis undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this release.

Non-Solicitation – Any securities discussed herein or in the accompanying presentations, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Any such announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein or in the presentations, if and as applicable.

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SOURCE FIBRA Prologis