News In Brief
| Washington
US firms plan big increase in capital outlay in '84
US businesses, shaking off an unprecedented three-year slump in investment, plan to spend 9.4 percent more in 1984 on new equipment and factories than they did last year, the government reported Thursday.
''It's a very good recovery,'' said Ago Ambre, department senior economist. The estimated increase would be the sharpest surge of capital investment since a 9.5 percent increase in 1977, officials said.
In dollars adjusted for inflation, a 9.4 percent increase in 1984 spending would amount to $158.6 billion, topping 1978's $147 billion, but not the figures in following years.
