Economists are optimistic that the country's export sector, which plunged 41 percent year-on-year in January, will begin to show slightly better results soon. In an ABS-CBN poll for the results of exports data for February (to be released April 16), economists expectatations ranged from a decline of 36.5 to 11 percent. The median average was at -28.1 percent. Those polled, however, were quick to point out that even though the exports figure is improving, it is likely to remain negative for the entire year. The sector is dependent on when the US actually pulls itself out of recession.