Confidence among chief executives of major U.S. companies has flipped from optimism to caution. A sharp drop in the second quarter marks the end of a brief surge that began the year. The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence fell to 47 in Q2 2026 from 59 in Q1. Readings below 50 indicate more negative views than positive ones. The survey of 141 CEOs, conducted from May 4 through 18 in partnership with The Business Council, captured a stark shift. ( PR Newswire , May 28, 2026) “CEO confidence fell back into negative territory in Q2 2026, reversing the surge in optimism in the first quarter,” said Dana M Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board. “CEOs reported that the economy is materially worse now than it was six months ago and expected economic conditions to weaken further over the next six months.” Numbers paint a clear picture. Only 15% of CEOs described current economic conditions as better than six months earlier. That figure stood at 39% in the prior quarter.…