Container ships are docked at the APM Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, Calif., on July 31, 2025. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
A key measure of U.S. CEO confidence slipped further into negative territory in the fourth quarter, with nearly two-thirds of corporate leaders warning of stagflation ahead, according to a new survey by The Conference Board.
The Conference Board’s measure of CEO confidence, released on Oct. 16, fell to 48 in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 49 in the prior quarter. The survey, fielded from Sept. 22 to Oct. 6, included 130 CEOs of major U.S. companies.
