ALBANY COUNTY, N.Y. -- First Niagara has released its annual business leaders survey. The survey shows business executives in the Capital Region are more confident about the economy this year compared to other executives throughout Upstate New York.

More than 1,000 private business owners completed the survey. The director of the Siena Research Institute, who also conducted the survey, says they found CEO confidence is down.

"Consumer confidence is now hirer than is the CEO confidence. Year after year we saw CEO confidence being stronger than that of consumers. This year we see consumers, while not being extremely robust but being at or just above, what we call the breakeven point. Among consumers there is slightly more optimism than pessimism, which indicates a greater willingness to spend. So, we’re seeing the lines cross," said Dr. Don Levy, Director Siena Research Institute.

This was the sixth annual study done by First Niagara and the Siena College Research Institute.