NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- CEOs across America say they plan to increase capital spending, but have lowered their expectations on employment and sales for the short-term future, according to a survey released Tuesday by Business Roundtable.
A majority of the CEOs surveyed, about 66%, said they expect sales to increase over the next six months. But that number is down from 79% of those surveyed in the group's last poll, which was conducted in the second quarter.
But only 31% of those surveyed said they expected to increase their number of U.S. employees, a figure that was down from 39% in the second quarter.
"Sales forecasts are down from last quarter, prompting CEOs to remain cautious. However, they are preparing for future demand by increasing investment in capital," said Ivan G. Seidenberg, current chairman of Business Roundtable, in a statement. Seidenberg is also the chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications (VZ, Fortune 500).
The number of CEOs who say they expect increased capital investment rose to 49% in the third quarter, up from 43% in the second quarter.
The survey was completed between September 1 and September 21. Business Roundtable is an association of CEOs of leading U.S. companies, with nearly $6 trillion in annual revenues and more than 12 million employees. The organization lists 190 CEOs as members, and says that 125 returned the most recent survey. 
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