Corporate leaders are more upbeat about the U.S. economy than at any time in the past 17 years, according to a survey released today.

Bloomberg: The Conference Board measure of CEO confidence, in collaboration with the Business Council, jumped to 73 in the first quarter.

That’s up from 34 a year ago during the height of the pandemic and business closures.

A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative responses.

“CEOs across industries are planning for life after Covid-19,” Roger Ferguson, vice chairman of the Business Council and trustee of the Conference Board, said in a statement. “If downside risks are avoided, then this optimism will likely translate into higher wages, employment, and capital spending over the next year.”

Ferguson is also chief executive officer of investment giant TIAA and a former Federal Reserve vice chair.

CEOs expect improvement in the labor market over the next year.

The outlook for employee wages also improved, while the potential for layoffs receded, according to the report.

“CEOs entered 2021 historically upbeat,” Dana Peterson, chief economist of the Conference Board, said in a statement.

More than a third of chief executives surveyed said they expect that wages will rise by more than 3% over the next year, up from 22% who said so in the previous survey.

Nearly half said they expect to add jobs, while just 12% anticipated job reductions.

Forty-five percent expect to boost their capital spending budgets over the next year. CEO confidence tends to be a leading indicator of the willingness to make deals, so the increase in optimism could fuel mergers and acquisitions activity.