Corporate leaders in the U.S. have shifted from optimism to pessimism regarding the economy, as indicated by the Conference Board's latest CEO Confidence survey. The overall confidence score dropped to 47 in Q2 2026, down from 59 in Q1, signaling that negative outlooks now outnumber positive ones. Only 15% of CEOs feel the economy has improved over the last six months, a significant decline from 39% in the previous quarter. Furthermore, 40% anticipate worsening conditions in the next six months, compared to just 13% last quarter. This downturn in sentiment is reflected in corporate plans, with 31% of CEOs expecting to cut jobs, while only 28% plan to expand their workforce. Concerns about hiring difficulties and wage increases are also rising, with planned wage hikes slowing to the 3% to 4% range. Additionally, cyber risks have emerged as a major concern, with nearly two-thirds of CEOs ranking it among their top business risks. Overall, the outlook for the U.S. economy appears increasingly bleak as geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures mount.