The fact that 72 percent of respondents expect a better year in 2012 is up 6 percent from last year’s survey that found 66 percent of respondents were expecting 2011 to be better than 2010. Actually, all categories of predictions for 2012 were up from 2011 forecasts, including those for a much better year (13 percent vs. 9 percent) and better year (59 percent vs. 57 percent). Likewise, only 4 percent predicted a worse year in 2012 compared to 7 percent in 2011.
Another very positive survey finding is that an impressive 82 percent of respondents expect sales to increase in 2012, with 29 percent anticipating increases of more than 10 percent. An additional 36 percent said sales would increase between 5 and 10 percent, while 17 percent expect sales to increase less than 5 percent. Eighteen percent expect sales to stay the same.