2008-06-16 22:19:34 -

www.tatumllc.com - Tatum, LLC Dana Barka, 404-880-1328 Dana.barka@tatumllc.com or Fleishman-Hillard Chad Corley, 404-739-0149 Chad.corley@fleishman.com Several key indicators in the June Survey of Business Conditions conducted by leading financial executive and consulting services firm Tatum, LLC, suggests the economy is moving towards improvement despite the housing depression, weakening dollar, high fuel costs and impaired consumer confidence. Nearly 300 financial executives participated

in the monthly survey that identified positive trends in backlogs and overall improvement in financing conditions for the third month in a row.

In March, the Index hit 1.2, the lowest point in its seven-year history, with declines in nearly every indicator including capital expenditures and capital availability. As of June 1, the Index reached 2.7, marking the third straight month above 1.5, which Tatum considers potentially recessionary. In addition, 46 percent of the survey respondents expect business conditions to improve in the next 60 days.

"For the past three months, we've observed a steady upward trend from a very weak point in March, and this month's survey results suggest that this trend will continue," said Rich D'Amaro, Chairman and CEO of Tatum, LLC. "Right now, businesses are reluctant to hire or fire until the need is obvious and compelling. There is still some 'wait and see' going on within companies across the U.S., but these are certainly positive signs for the economy."

While the June Index does offer some optimistic views on the economy, several normally lagging indicators, including capital expenditure commitments and employment, demonstrates caution by businesses in spending and reason to believe that the return to a healthy economy will be a slow, steady process.

Tatum's next Survey of Business Conditions, scheduled for July, will yield more insight related to the economic recession in the United States. To view the complete June 2008 Survey of Business Conditions, please visit: www.tatumllc.com/tatum_survey.aspx

About Tatum, LLC

Tatum is the largest and only Executive Services firm in the U.S. with a singular focus on helping companies maximize the Office of the CFO to accelerate business performance and create more value. Tatum works with companies of all sizes who need decisive leadership talent, capacity, and access to improve and sustain performance. Tatum understands the urgency of NOW. Our firm's extensive cadre of executive and consulting professionals can respond immediately to deliver the right executive leader and flexible resources, to address the challenges facing the Office of the CFO. For more information, please visit www.TatumLLC.com.

About Tatum Survey of Business Conditions

Each month, Tatum conducts a survey of its financial and technology executives regarding current business and economic conditions and trends in the financial industry. The survey looks back at the past 30 days and forward to the next 60 days and produces an Index of Business Conditions based on the ratings. With nearly 1,000 partners and professionals serving companies of all sizes across a broad base of industries in every geographic region of the United States, the Tatum Survey of Business Conditions takes a representative pulse of business activity.

Tatum Survey of Business Conditions Shows Steady Improvement in
Recent Months