CFO Signals™: 2017 Q1

Highlights from the 2017 Q1 results

• Executive summary and high-level report
• Infographic
• Deloitte Module in CFO Journal articles
  
• Get in touch with our experts

Read the report and executive summary

Following their very positive outlook in the second and third quarters of 2016, CFOs were even more positive as they looked toward 2017. They were particularly bullish on the US economy, and their optimism regarding their own companies’ prospects remained strong. Even so, they cited growing concerns related to uncertainty—especially around the possibility of protectionist trade policies.

So how has the post-election period affected CFOs’ outlook? In short, this quarter’s North American CFO Signals indicated the most positive uptick in sentiment in the seven-year history of this survey. And their expectations for growth in revenue, earnings, investment, and hiring all rose, and now sit above their two-year averages.

Overall, respondents’ collective outlook has improved significantly since the last survey, with CFOs voicing high hopes for lower taxes, a more business-friendly regulatory environment, and better economic growth. But the past few months have also done little to reduce concerns about policy uncertainty—especially around trade and taxes.

So where does this leave CFOs’ sentiment and expectations as they begin 2017?

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

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Deloitte Module in CFO Journal

An online publication from The Wall Street Journal, featuring a regular stream of CFO-centric content and timely features from Deloitte, including insights and analysis, which appear in a separate module.

Read the latest articles available covering the Q1'17 CFO Signals findings:

• CFO Optimism Spikes Up Across Several Measures: CFO Signals
• Key Business Measures Reach Milestones: CFO Signals

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.

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