Learn why CEOs are much more optimistic about the economy in the new year. 

CEO confidence is up 9 points from Q4 2024, signaling a shift to confident optimism among CEOs. 

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™ reached 60 in Q1 2025—marking the highest reading in three years. What’s driving these gains, and what does that mean for investment and capital spending? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at The Conference Board, to learn about the biggest perceived risks, what's next for hiring, and why we’re in an unusual period of high uncertainty and high CEO confidence.  

(01:57) CEO Confidence and Economic Outlook (05:18) Labor Market Insights (08:41) Impact of Policy and Uncertainty (11:51) Capital Spending and Investment Plans (14:33) Risks and Challenges Ahead

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO Confidence Increased Sharply in Q1 2025 

• C-Suite Outlook 2025: Seizing the Future 

• The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US Declined in January