CEO Confidence Index Falls to 47 in Q2 2026

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence fell from 59 in Q1 2026 to 47 in Q2 2026. A reading below 50 indicates more negative than positive responses. The survey polled 141 CEOs in collaboration with The Business Council.

Nearly half of respondents said general economic conditions were worse than six months ago, compared with 8 percent in the prior quarter. A third said conditions in their industries were worse than six months ago, while another third said the situation was better. Dana M.

Three in 10 CEOs said they expect to reduce their workforce in the next 12 months, up from 27 percent in Q1. More than half said artificial intelligence would not transform their sectors, though nearly a fourth said they will need to upskill more than 50 percent of employees within two years. CEOs listed cyber, geopolitical, and AI risks as their top concerns.

Supply chain issues and energy concerns also rose in importance. , Israel, and Iran. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on April 8, 2026, but the parties have not reached a deal to end the conflict or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Gas prices have risen 50 percent since the war began. Maersk, the world’s second-largest shipping company, operates 700 vessels and carries about 14 percent of global containerized goods. Its CEO, Vincent Clerc, said the war is costing the company an extra $500 million a month.

Clerc added that the business is trying not to pass the costs to customers but warned that doing so may become inevitable. Planned business investment remained steady in Q2 2026, with most CEOs reporting no revisions to capital spending plans. Roger W.

Vice chairman of The Business Council, said, “Planned business investment stayed the course in Q2, as most CEOs cited no revisions to capital investment plans.