NEW YORK — Confidence among U.S. chief executives in the near-term economic outlook fell sharply in the second quarter of 2026, according to a survey released by The Conference Board and The Business Council, with business leaders reporting a more negative view of current conditions and expecting further weakening over the next six months.
The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence dropped to 47 in the second quarter from 59 in the first quarter, according to the survey of 141 chief executives conducted between May 4 and May 18. A reading below 50 indicates that negative responses outnumber positive ones, the organization said.
“CEOs reported that the economy is materially worse now than it was six months ago and expected economic conditions to weaken further over the next six months,” Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, said in a statement accompanying the survey.
According to the findings, nearly half of respondents said overall economic conditions had deteriorated compared with six months earlier, a significant increase from the share expressing that view in the previous quarter. The survey also found that executives’ assessments of conditions within their own industries weakened, both for the present and for the months ahead.
The report identified cyber threats, geopolitical developments and risks associated with artificial intelligence among the leading concerns cited by chief executives. Supply-chain disruptions and energy-related issues also rose in importance, according to the survey results.
The decline in CEO sentiment comes as businesses navigate a period of elevated inflation and uncertainty over interest rates. Economists surveyed by Reuters this month said they expected the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged through the remainder of 2026 as inflation pressures persisted.
Other indicators have presented a mixed picture of economic sentiment. Preliminary data released this week showed U.S. consumer sentiment improved modestly in early June after reaching a record low in May, aided by lower gasoline prices, although overall confidence remained weak by historical standards.
Separate business surveys have also shown varying results. A June poll by Chief Executive magazine found a slight improvement in executive assessments of current business conditions, though many respondents continued to cite inflation, geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty as key challenges.
As of mid-June, The Conference Board’s latest survey indicated that corporate leaders remained cautious about the U.S. economy’s near-term direction, with expectations for economic conditions over the next six months remaining predominantly negative.
