Businesses grow cautious

FORT MYERS — A recent quarterly survey of about 100 Lee County business executives revealed a decline in their expectation of an improving economy compared with a similar survey in the spring.

The percentage of Lee County executives who expect a moderately better economy over the next year fell from 71% in the spring to 57% in July, according to a survey conducted by Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers for local economic development organizations.

Still, 39% of Lee County executives say their company plans to hire more employees over the next year. Just 4% expect to cut employment.