U.S. CEO confidence has plunged to a multi-year low, with business leaders reacting to President Donald Trump's tariff rollout, according to Chief Executive magazine.
A survey of 329 U.S. CEOs and business owners, conducted from April 8 to 10, revealed the confidence index has dropped to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered business in the spring of 2020, reflecting their assessments of current business conditions and the outlook for the next 12 months.
An overwhelming majority of CEOs in the April survey attributed their declining optimism to Trump's global tariff regime. Among the surveyed executives, 67 percent expressed disapproval of the tariffs, while 76 percent predicted they would negatively or severely impact their businesses this year.
On the other hand, U.S. tariffs are disrupting the infant care market, according to a separate news report published Sunday. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a U.S. trade group, estimates that 90 percent of core baby care products and their components are manufactured in Asia, with the vast majority coming from China.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has requested a tariff exemption from the Trump administration, emphasizing that baby products are vital to children's health and well-being.
Steven Dunn, CEO of baby bottle maker Munchkin Inc. said that he had to halt orders from China -- where about 60 percent of his company's products come from. He expects Munchkin will run out of some products within three months.
Munchkin, founded by Dunn in 1991, used to make baby bottles in California with tooling from New Jersey. But over the years, the manufacturers he used shut down and the cost of doing business in the U.S. skyrocketed.
So far, there is not enough tool makers and manufacturing expertise and automation and skilled labor in the U.S. to make the thousands of products the juvenile industry needs, Dunn highlighted.
CEO confidence at multi-year low amid fallout from Trump's tariff policies: U.S. magazine poll
U.S. CEO confidence hits record low amid fallout from Trump's tariff policies
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
