Survey: 2010 will be better

DOWNERS GROVE - Chicago-area business owners and managers say the worst of the recession is over. A majority of companies predict they won't cut employees' hours, pay or 401(k) contributions this year, according to the Chicago Area Economic Conditions Survey of Employer Practices and Plans for 2010 conducted by the Management Association of Illinois and released Thursday. In fact, 31 percent of businesses say they're likely to give raises in 2010 and 23 percent expect to hire new employees or call back former workers from layoff, according to the study, which surveyed more than 200 city and suburban businesses in January. Almost half of businesses surveyed said they think the economy is getting better and 61 percent expect their organization's performance to be better than last year, the most positive results since the quarterly surveys started in December 2008.