The leaders of Iowa’s largest businesses are growing less optimistic about the state’s economy. The Iowa Business Council’s (IBC) third quarter Economic Outlook Survey, released Thursday, shows projections for sales, capital spending, and hiring are all down several points from three months ago. Elliott Smith is the executive director of the IBC.

 

Smith says numbers dropped in all three categories in the latest survey.

 

The chair of the Iowa Business Council, Mike Wells, says uncertainty in the global economy is making it difficult for Iowa companies to chart strategic plans.