Post-presidential election survey: Economic analysis for CEOs and business owners

For a detailed post-election report on CEO and small business confidence, including actionable advice from Vistage experts, download the eBook After the Election: Economic analysis and advice for CEOs and business owners.

The United States is preparing to swear in a new president in January 2017. Despite the resulting element of uncertainty, members of the Vistage community offer insight, opinion, and actionable agenda items to help CEOs and business owners make informed decisions based on expert peer input as they prepare for impending change.

As the business community assesses an economic landscape in flux, most small business owners are optimistic, according to the latest WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Survey.

Economic outlook

“The initial reactions are quite positive, like any honeymoon,” says Dr. Richard Curtin, Research Professor and Director of the Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan, who conducts the analyses for the WSJ/Vistage survey each month. More than half of surveyed CEOS expressed an improved economic outlook.

Business prospects

Vistage member Ami Kassar, Founder and CEO of MultiFunding, shares the optimism voiced by 40% of surveyed CEOs: “I am cautiously optimistic that this administration will make it easier for small business owners to access reasonably priced credit,” Kassar says, “and that it will be harder to access the crazy expensive credit that’s been available over the last decade or so.”

Hiring and investing

Fewer than a third of surveyed CEOs revealed plans to increase hiring in the wake of the election, while two-thirds say that the election results have no bearing on their investment plans.

“While the surprise election of Trump was immediately reflected in more favorable expectations for the economy,” Curtin says, “it will take more evidence of the size and timing of the anticipated policy changes before small firms are confident enough to undertake the risks of ramping up hiring or investments.”

Download the eBook After the Election: Economic analysis and advice for CEOs and business owners.

In it you will learn:

• Results from the WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Survey
• Recommendations for short-term actions
• Insights into long-term planning

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