Every six weeks, the Quarterly conducts an economic conditions snapshot survey of a panel of executives around the world. For the first time in more than a year, the proportion of respondents who report that their companies have sought external funds has changed significantly—increasing to 41 percent, from 32 percent in October. What’s more, a higher proportion of these companies actually received the money they sought. Our findings may indicate a rising—and apparently well-founded—hope among executives that credit will be available.

For more on the views of our executive panel, read “Economic Conditions Snapshot, December 2009: McKinsey Global Survey results.” (December 2009).