North American CFOs Bet on Internal Growth Despite Economic Gloom

The quarterly survey reveals a deepening pessimism toward the macro environment, with 33% of respondents characterizing the current North American economy as poor. This skepticism is reflected in the CFO confidence score, which slid to 5.9—a medium-range rating—marking the second consecutive quarterly decline. Despite these headwinds, 90% of finance chiefs express confidence in their own business performance, fueling a renewed appetite for strategic risk-taking that rose to 59% this quarter.

Internal pressures remain dominated by the hunt for human capital, as 51% of CFOs identify talent acquisition and skill gaps as their most significant internal challenge. Technology deployment and productivity goals follow closely, cited by 49% and 48% of leaders respectively. Externally, the narrative is defined by persistent volatility. Inflation remains the primary concern for 50% of respondents, with supply chain instabilities and interest rate fluctuations continuing to constrain long-term planning across the region.