Finance chiefs sour on economy but back their own companies
Deloitte’s latest CFO survey found darker views on North America’s economy, even as executives reported strong confidence in their own companies.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
North American finance chiefs have become much more negative on the economy, according to Deloitte, but they remain confident about their own companies’ financial outlooks. The split matters because CFOs are still showing a willingness to take risks, raise capital and invest in technology despite wider economic unease.
Deloitte’s Q2 2026 CFO Signals survey found that 33% of respondents described the North American economy as bad, up from 5% in the first quarter. At the same time, 90% said they were either significantly or somewhat more optimistic about the future financial prospects of their own companies.
The survey covered 200 CFOs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Deloitte said. Respondents worked at companies with at least $1 billion in revenue.
Ed Hardy, Deloitte’s U.S. financial services leader, told Fortune that the findings show a divide between concern over broad economic conditions and confidence in companies’ ability to carry out their plans. He said CFOs’ view of the wider economy had weakened for two straight quarters, while their confidence in company execution remained strong by recent standards.
Risk appetite rises despite caution
Deloitte said 59% of CFOs in the survey viewed the period as a good time to take calculated risks, up from 48% in the prior quarter. Fortune reported that those risks include moves such as using debt markets and raising capital.
Hardy told Fortune that many finance leaders believe their businesses have distinctive value even in an uneven operating environment. Deloitte’s findings suggest that CFOs are not waiting for the macro picture to clear before making decisions on financing, strategy and investment.
Economic concerns still weigh on the group. Deloitte said inflation and general economic conditions remained among the leading outside risks, with about half of CFOs naming inflation as an issue to watch in the months ahead.
Fortune reported that the Federal Reserve’s steady approach to rates may be helping some executives consider risk-taking, though Deloitte’s findings show it has not removed broader concern.
AI adds promise and management questions
Artificial intelligence has become another area where CFOs see both opportunity and difficulty, according to Hardy. Companies are working to adopt and expand AI use, but finance leaders are still asking how to judge returns, control costs and set rules for governance, Fortune reported.
Hardy said the challenge goes beyond measuring savings. Deloitte’s survey points to a broader question for finance teams: how to value new capabilities created by AI, rather than only counting reduced expenses.
Talent ranked as the top risk in the survey, cited by 51% of CFOs, Deloitte said. Fortune reported that the concern includes hiring, retention and the need to train employees for new technology-driven work.
Finance departments are also changing the mix of skills they need, according to Fortune. Along with traditional accounting knowledge, companies are bringing in roles such as prompt engineers and AI specialists, while still relying on experienced finance staff to check outputs and manage risk.
Hardy told Fortune that CFOs are rethinking how they recruit, keep and reward a broader blend of employees. Deloitte’s findings show finance chiefs trying to control what they can inside their companies while preparing for an economy they increasingly view with caution.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.