WASHINGTON – Chief executives for the largest U.S. companies are more optimistic about sales over the next six months and plan to add more workers.

The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that its April-June quarterly survey found 32 percent of its members expect to expand payrolls in the next six months. That's up from 29 percent in the January-March survey. And 78 percent expect their sales to increase. That's up from 72 percent from the previous survey.

Consumers have kept spending this year, despite an increase in Social Security taxes.

TRENTON, N.J. – Inmates in New Jersey have been collecting millions of dollars in unemployment, health care and retirement benefits they shouldn't have received, according to a report released Wednesday by the state comptroller's office.

The report shows the state paid inmates $23 million in benefits over 22 months ending in April 2011. Those payments included jobless benefits, Medicaid coverage, food stamps, Work First cash assistance and state pension checks the inmates were not entitled to receive.

"These are vitally important social programs," Comptroller Matt Boxer said.