The outlook for the U.S. economy improved among financial decision-makers in the first quarter of 2026, according to The CFO Survey, a collaboration of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta.
Despite concerns about tariff policy and uncertainty, expectations for U.S. GDP growth and business revenue growth over the next year remained solid.
The survey, which included 473 respondents, was fielded from Feb. 17 to March 5.
"The February employment report might have been soft, but business expectations for both demand and hiring in 2026 held up among respondents,” said Sonya Ravindranath Waddell, vice president and economist with the Richmond Fed, whose district includes South Carolina.
Waddell added, “Most firms expected demand to increase in the next 12 months and reported continued hiring, albeit more for replacement than for new positions. Very few firms expected declining demand or a need to lay off workers.”
The survey offers insights from business leaders on the financial outlook for their firms, the challenges they face, and their expectations for the economy.
The CFO Survey panel includes firms that range from small operations to Fortune 500 companies across all major industries.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here