By MARLEY SEAMAN
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK – Economists say the U.S. recovery continued during the second quarter of this year with more businesses hiring workers and fewer cutting jobs, but the pace of growth has slowed, a new survey shows.
The National Association for Business Economics said its latest survey, released today, found 31 percent of businesses added workers between April and June, the highest level in three years. And 39 percent of those surveyed say they expect to hire more workers over the next six months – the most since January 2008. Manufacturers reported the strongest increase in demand and profitability. Finance, insurance and real estate sectors saw the slowest growth.
The number of respondents who think real gross domestic product (GDP) will expand by more than 3 percent this year slid to 20 percent from the 24 percent who expected that rate of growth in April. But sixty-seven percent of respondents still believe the economy will expand by more than 2 percent in 2010.