AICPA and CIMA Survey Shows Rising Business Confidence

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants released its Q3 2026 Economic Outlook Survey, revealing a modest increase in business executive optimism. Confidence in the U.S. economy rose to 36% from 32% in the second quarter, while global economic optimism increased from 19% to 24%.

Despite the rebound, Tom Hood, Executive Vice President of Business Engagement and Growth, noted that organizations are adopting a more disciplined approach to investment. The percentage of companies expecting to expand over the next year fell from 54% to 49%, with projected spending on training, capital investments, and IT softening.

Inflation remains the primary concern for nearly 80% of the 206 senior financial professionals surveyed, driven by interest rates, energy, materials, and labor costs. Other significant obstacles include cybersecurity risks and domestic political governance. However, hiring sentiment improved, with 33% of executives reporting employee shortages, up from 28% in Q2.

Financial projections showed slight gains, with projected revenue growth rising to 3.1% and profit growth to 1.5%. Recession fears also moderated, as the percentage of respondents believing the U.S. will enter a recession by the end of 2026 dropped from 51% to 46%.