2016 Business Outlook Survey Report

Last year at this time, 78 percent of the respondents to our Business Outlook Survey expected U.S Business conditions to improve. This year, however, only 44 percent anticipate improvement. The reasons for the 34 percent drop in confidence range from election year jitters and stock market turmoil to government regulations and political partisanship. In fact, 28 percent expect a decline in business conditions this year, compared to only seven percent last year. “The future for the next 4 years is hinging on the election—no matter which way it goes,” said one of the business owners and executives who completed the sixth annual McDonald Hopkins Business Outlook Survey.