CEO confidence among America's top business leaders climbed back above the neutral mark in the third quarter of 2026, with the latest survey data suggesting that the worst fears of earlier this year may be fading though executives remain cautious about the road ahead.
The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence rose to 52 in Q3 2026, up from 47 in Q2, according to results released August 6 by The Conference Board and The Business Council. The reading marks the first time the index has crossed the 50 threshold — which separates more positive from more negative responses — since the first quarter, when it stood at 59. The survey of 136 chief executives was conducted July 13–27, 2026.
"The improvement reflects a notable shift in how executives view both the broader economy and their own sectors," said Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, a nonprofit business research organization based in New York City. Peterson attributed the rebound largely to "easing in oil prices and geopolitical tensions," while cautioning that the recovery reflects "cautious optimism" rather than a full-throated return of confidence.
The improvement was most visible in how CEOs assessed present-day conditions. The share of executives who said the general economic environment was better than six months earlier rose to 23% from just 15% in Q2, while those saying conditions had worsened fell sharply to 26% from 47%. For their own industries specifically, 43% of respondents reported conditions had improved over the past six months, up from 33%, with only 23% citing deterioration, down from 33%.
That kind of industry-level optimism can carry real implications for independent financial advisors and wealth managers, who track executive sentiment as a leading indicator of capital allocation and client portfolio positioning. The shift in CEO mood comes as financial planning professionals are increasingly called upon to help clients navigate a volatile macro environment.
Even as overall sentiment improved, executives flagged a shifting landscape of business risks. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., vice chairman of The Business Council — a Washington, D.C.-based organization representing chief executives of major American corporations — noted that cybersecurity remained the top concern, cited by 63% of respondents.
Artificial intelligence and new technology displaced geopolitics as the second-highest risk, named by 58% of CEOs. Geopolitical concerns, while still significant, eased to 53% from 62% in Q2, and worries about energy supply fell to 25% from 34%.
On the workforce side, 34% of CEOs planned to expand their headcount over the coming months, up from 28% in Q2, while 28% anticipated reductions. The majority (61%) said they did not expect significant hiring difficulties. On compensation, 58% of executives planned to raise wages in the 3–3.9% annual range, a figure that will register with advisors helping clients plan for inflation-adjusted retirement income and household cash flow.
Capital expenditure intentions were largely stable, with 61% of CEOs reporting no change to their spending plans and 31% anticipating increases — a modest positive signal for equity investors and their advisors.
Looking six months ahead, 25% of executives expected general economic conditions to improve, up marginally from 24% in Q2, while the share expecting deterioration fell dramatically to 19% from 40%. The more pronounced optimism was industry-specific: 36% of CEOs anticipated improved conditions in their own sectors, compared with just 13% expecting decline.
The data lands at a moment when wealth management professionals are navigating a complex environment of moderating inflation, shifting rate expectations, and client anxiety about market direction. For advisors building financial plans around long-term growth assumptions, the question of whether executive sentiment translates into real investment activity over the second half of 2026 will be worth watching closely.
The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence has been published quarterly since 1976 and is based on surveys conducted in partnership with The Business Council.
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