Economic trends Archives | Vistage Research Center Resource for Business Leadership, Coaching, and CEOs Thu, 13 Mar 2025 23:15:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 141323424 Post-election optimism reverses swiftly over tariffs [WSJ/Vistage Feb 2025] /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250219-post-election-optimism-reverses-wsj-survey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20250219-post-election-optimism-reverses-wsj-survey /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250219-post-election-optimism-reverses-wsj-survey/#respond Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:50:00 +0000 /research-center/?p=46966 The post-election confidence among small businesses has reversed over the last few months, dropping the WSJ/Vistage Small Business Index to 94.8 as details on tariffs — when, where and how much — have become clearer. While small business confidence has...

The post Post-election optimism reverses swiftly over tariffs [WSJ/Vistage Feb 2025] appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250219-post-election-optimism-reverses-wsj-survey/feed/ 0 46966 Tangling with tariffs in 2025: CEOs share their strategies /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250206-tariffs-in-2025/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20250206-tariffs-in-2025 /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250206-tariffs-in-2025/#respond Fri, 07 Feb 2025 04:12:22 +0000 /research-center/?p=46929 As the new administration moves forward with the promised tariffs in 2025, small and midsize businesses are concerned about their impacts. Last month, analysis of data from the WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index revealed that 37% of small businesses...

The post Tangling with tariffs in 2025: CEOs share their strategies appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20250206-tariffs-in-2025/feed/ 0 46929 Economic trends for 2025 and beyond /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20241111-economic-trends-for-2025-and-beyond/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20241111-economic-trends-for-2025-and-beyond /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20241111-economic-trends-for-2025-and-beyond/#respond Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000 /research-center/?p=46630 To project into the future, we must first understand the past. Much of the last year’s narrative has been about the Federal Reserve trying to cool inflation. Its root cause was certainly formulaic — part short-term reaction to supply chain...

The post Economic trends for 2025 and beyond appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20241111-economic-trends-for-2025-and-beyond/feed/ 0 46630 SMBs welcome Federal Reserve interest rate cut /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240920-interest-rate-cut/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20240920-interest-rate-cut /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240920-interest-rate-cut/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:16:23 +0000 /research-center/?p=46450 While the Federal Reserve’s rate cut this week was predicted, the 50 basis-point cut surprised those who anticipated the minimum 25-point cut. Lauren Saidel-Baker from ITR Economics, who spoke to over 300 leaders at the Vistage Executive Summit in Orange...

The post SMBs welcome Federal Reserve interest rate cut appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240920-interest-rate-cut/feed/ 0 46450 Small business economic pessimism spikes 10 points [WSJ/Vistage Aug 2024] /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240829-small-business-pessimism-spikes-wsj-survey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20240829-small-business-pessimism-spikes-wsj-survey /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240829-small-business-pessimism-spikes-wsj-survey/#respond Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:35:00 +0000 /research-center/?p=46389 Increasingly negative economic sentiment — combined with softer workforce expansion plans among small businesses over the next 12 months — led to the WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index sliding to 83.3 in August. This is the lowest recording since...

The post Small business economic pessimism spikes 10 points [WSJ/Vistage Aug 2024] appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240829-small-business-pessimism-spikes-wsj-survey/feed/ 0 46389 CEO confidence rises to the valley of the 2010s growth cycle [Q1 Vistage CEO Index] /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240415-ceo-confidence-rises-q1-2024-vistage-ceo-index/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20240415-ceo-confidence-rises-q1-2024-vistage-ceo-index /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240415-ceo-confidence-rises-q1-2024-vistage-ceo-index/#respond Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:30:08 +0000 /research-center/?p=45409 Athletes recovering from serious injuries go through rigorous rehab just to get back to minimum performance levels. From there, it’s a long path to becoming competitive again. As the economy continues its recovery from the injuries inflicted by the pandemic,...

The post CEO confidence rises to the valley of the 2010s growth cycle [Q1 Vistage CEO Index] appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240415-ceo-confidence-rises-q1-2024-vistage-ceo-index/feed/ 0 45409 Economic trends for 2024 and beyond /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231106-economic-trends-for-2024-and-beyond/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20231106-economic-trends-for-2024-and-beyond /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231106-economic-trends-for-2024-and-beyond/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:40:12 +0000 /research-center/?p=44604 Editor’s note: This is the third installment of an annual 4-part series on trends impacting small and midsize businesses. Here, we study economic trends for 2024. Some have compared U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to that friend who always...

The post Economic trends for 2024 and beyond appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231106-economic-trends-for-2024-and-beyond/feed/ 0 44604 4 ways CEOs can find growth in a slow economy /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231016-ceos-growth-slow-economy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20231016-ceos-growth-slow-economy /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231016-ceos-growth-slow-economy/#respond Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:00:00 +0000 /research-center/?p=44525 As we inch closer to 2024, one thing is clear: We must reset our understanding of the economic landscape. After years of nearly nonexistent inflation and historically low interest rates, we have landed at a higher base level. The sales...

The post 4 ways CEOs can find growth in a slow economy appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20231016-ceos-growth-slow-economy/feed/ 0 44525 Small business confidence improves after debt ceiling dip [WSJ/Vistage June 2023] /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20230629-small-business-confidence-improves-wsj-survey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20230629-small-business-confidence-improves-wsj-survey /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20230629-small-business-confidence-improves-wsj-survey/#respond Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:55:00 +0000 /research-center/?p=44160 After the uncertainty of the debt ceiling status that impacted small business confidence in May, the June WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index increased 6.5 points to reach 79.8, returning to the level recorded this past March. While all six...

The post Small business confidence improves after debt ceiling dip [WSJ/Vistage June 2023] appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20230629-small-business-confidence-improves-wsj-survey/feed/ 0 44160 Entrepreneurs: How to turn high oil prices into sustainable opportunities /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20220407-entrepreneurs-oil-prices-sustainable-opportunities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20220407-entrepreneurs-oil-prices-sustainable-opportunities /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20220407-entrepreneurs-oil-prices-sustainable-opportunities/#respond Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:27:21 +0000 /research-center/?p=40325 Global oil prices have risen above $100/barrel. The conflict in Ukraine is one driver of higher prices. Others include tight inventories, scant spare capacity, and expected record-high demand. Higher oil costs may threaten entrepreneurs’ profits, sales, and viability in the...

The post Entrepreneurs: How to turn high oil prices into sustainable opportunities appeared first on Vistage Research Center.

]]> /research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20220407-entrepreneurs-oil-prices-sustainable-opportunities/feed/ 0 40325