The stock market saw a brief rally as the Trump administration signaled a softer stance on tariffs, but optimism faded as new auto industry tariffs loomed. CFOs surveyed in Q1 2025 expressed growing pessimism about the economy, with 60% predicting a recession in the second half of the year.
Concerns over trade policy, inflation, and consumer demand are driving uncertainty, with 90% of CFOs believing tariffs will fuel inflation and delay the Federal Reserve’s ability to hit its 2% target until 2026 or later.