Business leaders became more optimistic about the US economy in the first three months of this year, according to the first‑quarter (Q1) American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Economic Outlook Survey.

The survey, conducted on 3–24 February 2026, includes 236 qualified responses from AICPA members in executive roles in business and industry.

In the latest poll, 39% of respondents said they are optimistic about the US economy over the next 12 months, an increase from 28% reported in the previous quarter.

Views on company‑level prospects also improved.

Executives expressing optimism about their own organisations increased to 47% in Q1, up from 41% in Q4 last year.

Some 55% of executives now expect their businesses to grow this quarter, compared with 48% who said the same three months earlier.

Domestic economic conditions remained the most frequently cited issue for respondents.

Concerns about employee and benefits costs climbed into second place, while spending on materials, supplies and equipment moved into third. Reports of inflation as a primary concern eased during the quarter.

Some other key findings of the survey include that expectations of a recession have shifted notably, while hiring conditions appear broadly unchanged.

In terms of the financial outlook, respondents now project revenue to grow by 2.9% over the next 12 months. The profit growth forecast is at 1.6%, according to the survey.

The research also found sentiment on the global economy has improved, with the share of executives expressing optimism rising to 25% from 22% in the prior quarter. However, it also noted that the fieldwork ended before the latest developments in the Middle East.