Economic optimism dips, while company confidence holds steady – survey

Economic assurance among concern leaders weakened successful the 2nd 4th of 2026 (Q2 2026), adjacent arsenic executives remained comparatively upbeat astir their ain organisations’ prospects, according to the latest AICPA and CIMA Economic Outlook Survey.

The survey, conducted from 5–27 May 2026, drew 212 responses from certified nationalist accountants (CPAs) and Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMAs) successful elder positions.

According to the survey, US economical optimism dropped to 32%, down from 39% successful Q1, portion planetary economical optimism fell to 19%.

Respondents cited persistent inflation, higher vigor prices and geopolitical tensions arsenic cardinal factors weighing connected sentiment.

Some 49% of executives reported optimism astir their ain organisations’ outlook, signalling resilience successful concern expectations contempt the softer macroeconomic view.

AICPA concern engagement and maturation enforcement vice-president Tom Hood said: “Shifts successful enforcement concerns underscore this environment. Cost pressures person reasserted themselves.”

The survey indicated that outgo issues person moved backmost to the forefront, portion worker and payment expenses again featured arsenic a superior concern, alongside ostentation and rising costs for materials, supplies and equipment.

It besides highlighted that the home economical conditions person eased somewhat arsenic a apical interest and attraction connected home governmental enactment has besides moderated.

However, the availability of skilled endowment remained a dependable challenge, portion vigor costs person emerged much intelligibly arsenic a increasing worry.

Cybersecurity continued to summation prominence arsenic a hazard area, portion regulatory pressures edged down.

Global economical conditions, aft receding arsenic a interest successful caller quarters, reappeared arsenic a notable contented for executives.

Domestic economical conditions inactive led the database of concerns, adjacent arsenic ostentation fears retreated from earlier peaks. At the aforesaid time, outgo pressures from labour and materials intensified.

Growth plans remained broadly intact. According to the survey, 54% of executives expect their organisations to grow implicit the adjacent 12 months.

Hiring intentions were mostly stable. Talent gaps persisted, but less leaders reported hesitancy to hire, and much said they were proceeding with recruitment, contempt a humble summation successful those who reported having excess staff.

In the latest survey, 51% of respondents said the system is already successful a recession oregon volition beryllium by the extremity of 2026, up from 36% successful the anterior quarter.

"Economic optimism dips, portion institution assurance holds dependable – survey" was primitively created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.