Business environment outlook 

Key facts

• Workforce costs are again expected to rise, with 90% of CFOs predicting an increase.

• 57% of CFOs point to increasing costs as a significant threat to their business.

• 73% believe this is not a good time for companies to take on more risk.

Risk factors

Increasing costs are identified most often as posing a significant threat to business over the next 12 months (57%, up by 9 p.p. since 2018). A shortage of qualified workers – which was the main concern a year ago – is the second most often indicated factor in 2019, selected by 55% of CFOs. Factors perceived as the least risky are those related to disruptive technologies (2%) and cyber risk (3%).

Willingness to take on more risk

Similar to last year, most CFOs do not think this is a good time to take more risk in their financial decisions. Moreover, this view is shared by more respondents than in 2018 (+4 p.p., up from 69% in 2018 to 73% in 2019). CFOs from the Eurozone are even more risk-averse, with 77% unwilling to take on more risk for their companies.

Sources of funding

Compared to 2018, there are no big changes in how CFOs evaluate the attractiveness of particular sources of funding for their companies. The two most attractive remain bank borrowing (50% thinking it is attractive) and internal financing (49%). Corporate debt (with support from 28%) and equity (26%) are perceived as much less attractive.

Download the report to find out more about:

• external financial and economic uncertainty facing businesses
• company costs that are expected to rise
• M&A levels