(DURHAM) -- A new survey from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business shows top marketing executives at American firms are more optimistic about the economy and their own companies.

Duke professor Christine Moorman says it's good news, because marketing professors have plenty of interaction with consumers.

"Their viewpoints on how responsive consumers are going to be, how much they're going to spend, their focus in terms of purchasing products, is a very strong indication of what's happening in the economy," Moorman said.

The study found that Chief Marketing Officers rated the U.S. economy at 63 on a scale of 100, which is up from a rating of 56 last August.