Deloitte Survey: CFO Confidence Rises Amid Mixed Economic Signals
North American CFOs report improved confidence in Q3 2026 despite an uneven economic outlook, according to Deloitte's latest quarterly survey.
Chief financial officers across North America are feeling more optimistic heading into the final stretch of 2026, even as the broader economic picture remains uneven, according to Deloitte's CFO Signals survey for the third quarter of 2026, released Sept. 28.
The quarterly poll, overseen by Ed Hardy, U.S. Finance Services leader at Deloitte, tracks sentiment among senior finance executives on business conditions, hiring, capital spending, and risk appetite. A rebound in confidence suggests that CFOs may be looking past near-term volatility toward steadier conditions ahead, though the qualifier of an "uneven" outlook signals that concerns have not fully dissipated.
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The mixed backdrop reflects a broader tension that has defined the 2026 business environment: resilient corporate earnings and labor markets on one hand, and persistent uncertainties around monetary policy, geopolitical risk, and consumer demand on the other. CFOs, who serve as key barometers of corporate decision-making, appear to be recalibrating rather than retreating.
Deloitte's CFO Signals series is one of the most closely watched sentiment indicators among large-company finance leaders in the United States and Canada, offering a forward-looking read on capital allocation intentions and economic expectations that can precede shifts in business investment.
Full survey data and an interactive dashboard are available through Deloitte's insights portal. Continue reading at Economic News, Trends, Analysis.
