The United States reclaimed first place in this year's foreign direct investment confidence survey, as the country has made a gradual rebound, report published by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney showed Wednesday.
The U.S. topped the list for the first time since 2001, replacing China. Higher labor costs weighed on China's longer-term attractiveness. Moreover, enthusiasm for the U.S. resurgence pushed China to second in investors' minds.
Brazil maintained its third position, while Canada rose to fourth from 20th rank. Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom joined the United States in the top eight positions.
About 70 percent of corporate investors surveyed expect near-term recovery of their companies' FDI levels.
"While investors are still in a holding pattern as they have been since the recession, they seem more optimistic and less jittery than they have in recent years," said Paul Laudicina, chairman emeritus of A.T. Kearney and chairman of its Global Business Policy Council.
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