Survey: U.S. Business Optimism Soars to Record High of 80%

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Business optimism in the United States has surged to a record high of 80%, according to the latest Grant Thornton mid-market business survey, The International Business Report. This jump in optimism among mid-market decision-makers bodes well for the overall economy, as the segment often acts as the engine room for broader economic growth.

The findings, from Grant Thornton’s most recent quarterly global survey of 2,400 businesses in 36 economies, suggest that the new pro-business U.S. administration is acting as a catalyst, releasing pent-up confidence after a long period of supportive monetary policy and cheap oil. Although the dollar has come off its recent high, it remains strong at a time of relatively low-cost financing and healthier global growth. 

Globally, business optimism is at its highest level on record – 49% – heading in to the second quarter of 2017. Neighboring countries feel upbeat, too, as optimism rises in Canada from 33% to 59%and in Mexico from 8% to 32%. Countries across the European Union have seen a collective increase in optimism from 34% to 39% in the last quarter, despite the decision of the UK to leave the EU, while both Japan and Singapore have seen improvements of 20% or more. 

However, U.S. optimism is not yet feeding through into other business fundamentals. U.S. business expectations for revenue and profitability have fallen from 58% to 52%, and from 55% to 52%, respectively. 

“As the world’s largest economy, U.S. business confidence sends a shot of endorphins throughout the global market. It’s encouraging, therefore, to see that close neighbors and countries with strong trade links are also riding a new wave of hope,” said Francesca Lagerberg, global leader of tax services at Grant Thornton. “But clearly U.S. businesses are not yet seeing or expecting this to result in bottom-line change over the short term. Businesses await follow-through on promises relating to spending, de-regulation and tax cuts, while stock markets continue to react to daily policy developments.” 

The research suggests that many businesses are aiming to tap into the U.S. market. One of the biggest providers of capital goods, German export expectations have climbed from 22% to 35%, as a 9% rise in the number of U.S. firms expecting to invest in plant and machinery – at its strongest since the first quarter of 2014 at 41% – signals a desire to re-tool for the future. 

Globally, export expectations are up from 16% to 18% over the past three months, with prospects improving particularly across the developed Asia-Pacific (+4% to 12%), the G7 (+3% to 17%) and the EU (+2% to 24%). Nigeria (+26% to 40%), Germany (+13% to 35%), the Netherlands (+12% to 30%) and Ireland (+10% to 28%) have seen the most improvement. The data also reveals global rises in expectations of investment in plant and machinery to 34% (+1%) and new buildings to 22% (+3%).

Added Lagerberg, “Growth in U.S. investment expectations are clearly opening up opportunities for trade. In light of this, businesses should assess their export strategies over the coming years and consider how to take advantage of where investments are likely to strengthen. 

“Still, though firms in many parts of the world are feeling positive, concern over a lack of skilled staff is at a two-and-a-half year high of 33%, while global hiring expectations have also risen from 29% to 32%. This is a particular problem in tight labor markets, where businesses that don’t provide above-inflation wage growth may soon find their workers looking elsewhere. We may finally be seeing the crunch point in countries like the UK, where unemployment has reached its lowest level in decades but where fewer businesses are expecting to offer above-inflation pay rises – especially since the mid-market is generally regarded as the driving force behind job growth.”