ECONOMY

Executives Split on Economy: U.S. business executives have grown more optimistic about the economy, but small and medium-size business owners are not as sanguine, two new surveys said. In its quarterly survey of more than 500 chief executives, the Conference Board, a business research group, said nearly 80% of the executives expect the economy to improve in the next six months, up from 65% in the second quarter. In a separate survey, the American Business Conference said the heads of mid-size companies predict little economic growth for the rest of 1991.