TechFlow news, December 17 — According to Jinshi News, a survey jointly conducted by the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business shows that corporate financial executives continue to view tariffs as their top concern and on average expect prices to rise about 4% next year. This outcome could heighten the Federal Reserve's concerns about current price pressures—pressures that may prevent it from reaching its 2% inflation target anytime soon.
The survey, conducted between November 11 and December 1, polled 548 chief financial officers. Results indicate declining confidence among respondents regarding both their own companies and the overall U.S. economy. The overall economic optimism index fell from 62.9 in the third quarter (on a 100-point scale) to 60.2, also below the recent peak of 66 reached after former U.S. President Trump won the current term at the end of 2024.
Overall, respondents anticipate modest growth in employment and the economy in 2026. The median firm expects 1.7% employment growth in 2026—similar to recent surveys—and annual economic growth is projected at approximately 1.9%. Less than half (40%) of firms report hiring for new positions, slightly above 20% say they are not hiring at all, and about 9% expect to reduce staff.
