CFO Signals™: 2016 Q4

Highlights from the 2016 Q4 results

• Executive summary and high-level report
• Video
• Infographic
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Read the report and executive summary

Last quarter, CFOs faced a barrage of domestic and global developments that led to decidedly mixed sentiment and expectations. This quarter’s developments did little to offer a reprieve from volatility or uncertainty. Despite most pre-election indicators predicting little chance for Donald Trump to win the US presidency, he won the electoral college by a considerable margin.

According to the survey, lack of clarity around government policy rose significantly this quarter, with respondents frequently mentioning two new themes among their most worrisome risks: “uncertain impact of the new US administration” and “impact of protectionism on global trade.”

Meanwhile, many broader economic indicators have continued to improve. Bond yields rose, consumer confidence remained high, retail sales were strong, equities hit new highs, and claims for unemployment insurance fell to their lowest level since 1973.

So where does this leave CFOs’ sentiment and expectations as they look to 2017 and beyond?

Download the report to read the details or the executive summary to view the highlights.

About Deloitte LLP's CFO Signals™ Survey

CFO Signals™ is about CFO issues. This quarterly survey tracks the thinking and actions of leading CFOs – representing North America’s largest and most influential companies – across four predominant areas: Business environment, company priorities and expectations, finance priorities, personal priorities. Learn more about Deloitte's CFO Signals™ Survey.