Business expectations for greater sales and profits...

Business expectations for greater sales and profits during the third quarter are at their highest levels of the year, due to strong exports and continued strong consumer spending, according to a Dun & Bradstreet Corp. nationwide survey of 1,500 business executives. The survey also indicated that rising orders to manufacturers could put pressure on production capacity that in turn might fuel higher inflation in the July-September period. The firm said its index measuring sales optimism rose to 73 for the third quarter from 69 for the same period last year, the highest reading since the index’s previous peak of 75 for fourth quarter 1984. The index measuring expectations for higher profits rose to 65 from 64, while expectations for higher prices also rose, to 44 from 41.