DETROIT – Business Leaders For Michigan’s Q1 2026 CEO Economic Outlook Survey shows a significant rebound in sentiment compared to last year—though uncertainty remains. 

Compared to results from Q2 2025, confidence in the U.S. and Michigan’s economy has risen sharply. The share of CEOs expecting conditions to improve or stay the same in Michigan jumped from 13% to 65% over the past nine months—a 52-point swing. Similar results can be seen in the six-month outlook for the U.S. economy, with 67% of CEOs expecting conditions to improve or stay the same. Notably, CEOs see greater improvement potential nationally (35%) than in Michigan (17%).

Investment plans are also strengthening. Companies planning new capital spending increased from 15% last year to 46% this year. Overall, 83% of CEOs expect to increase or maintain capital investment—the highest level in more than two years.

Hiring plans reflect similar momentum. Three in four CEOs (75%) expect to maintain or grow their Michigan workforce in the next six months.

However, new global pressures could impact this progress. While the survey was conducted before the recent conflict with Iran, leaders are now reporting higher shipping costs, supply chain delays, and increases in some raw material prices. The extent of these impacts, along with customer demand, could significantly shift these results in the coming months. 

While results indicate improvement, global, national, and state-level policy decisions continue to create uncertainty about whether these trends can be maintained. 

Business Leaders For Michigan’s Michigan in a New Era plan explores these challenges and outlines strategies to strengthen the state’s competitiveness, including improving education, making it easier to build and grow businesses, and unlocking Michigan’s full economic potential. 

The internal member survey was in the field from February 23 through March 6, 2026.

About Business Leaders For Michigan: Business Leaders For Michigan is a statewide, nonpartisan organization driven by CEOs from the state’s leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making Michigan a Top 10 state for jobs, talent, and a thriving economy. Guided by research and diverse perspectives, they develop strategies, shape public policy, and drive initiatives that bring people and ideas together to ignite change—for growth, shared prosperity, and lasting progress. For Michigan.