CEO confidence falls deeper into negative territory in Q4 2022

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™ in collaboration with The Business Council stands at 32 to start Q4 2022, down from 34 in Q3. The Measure fell deeper into negative territory, to lows not seen since the depths of the Great Recession. (A reading below 50 points reflects more negative than positive responses.) A total of 136 CEOs participated in the Q4 survey, which was fielded between September 19 and October 3. 

The recent survey asked CEOs to describe the economic conditions they are preparing to face over the next 12-18 months. An overwhelming majority—98 percent—say they are preparing for a US recession. Moreover, 99 percent of CEOs say they are preparing for an EU recession. At the same time, CEOs continue to experience inflationary pressures, with 59 percent reporting that input costs over the past three months remained the same or rose, with no easing expected by year-end. Moreover, at the start of Q4, only 19 percent reported an increase in demand over the past three months—down from 38 percent in Q3. However, despite expectations of slower growth, tight labor market conditions and wage pressures persist, while hiring plans remain robust.