Conference Board survey finds gloomier outlook:

The number of executives who say business conditions are better now than they were six months ago has plunged to 29 percent from 62 percent last quarter, according to a Conference Board survey released yesterday.

The Business Council finds similar sentiment:

The Council's CEO poll found that 94 percent expect the U.S. economy to slow. Sixty-five percent said growth next year would total between 1.5 percent and 3 percent.