U.S. Business Leaders Split on 2026 Outlook as Economic Pessimism Doubles and Geopolitics Surges as a Top Business Risk

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 30, 2025--

Today, Altum Strategy Group, in partnership with YouGov, launched its annual NextWave Survey results, which captures sentiment from over 500 senior executives across industries. For 2026, business leaders are entering with sharply divided expectations for the economy, and for the first time since 2020, optimism and pessimism are nearly even — with 41 percent of leaders optimistic about the year ahead and 42 percent pessimistic — signaling a dramatic cooling from last year’s confidence rebound.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251030252054/en/

“We’re seeing a boardroom reset,” said Matt Gantner, CEO of Altum Strategy Group. “Leaders aren’t pulling back completely, but they’re planning more cautiously, prioritizing people, operations, and productivity over bold expansion. The macro story is no longer just about rates or inflation; it’s about managing volatility and preparing for what’s next.”

For the majority of business leaders, economic conditions are not just a worry; they’re the biggest external challenge to achieving revenue targets, with 73% of leaders identifying them as a key obstacle. This concern has grown significantly, with 68% now viewing it as a risk, up from 57% last year.

Additional Key Findings

About the Survey
Altum’s NextWave Survey ( Executive Summary ) was conducted by Altum Strategy Group in partnership with YouGov in September/October 2025. The study reflects responses from 517 U.S. senior executives and decision-makers across industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. The data was weighted by company size and sector to mirror the U.S. business economy. This is the third year the survey has run.

About Altum Strategy Group
Altum delivers the next technology wave to clients in a tailored way to empower teams and create value. Thinking boldly, deploying inclusive collaboration and active engagement is how we work. Altum applies our diverse expertise to lead strategy development at all levels, enabling us to incorporate cutting-edge digital solutions and innovative business operations that deliver impactful results. Altum powers our clients and their teams so they can ride the current wave and anticipate the next one. Go to www.altumstrategy.com for more.

US Business Leaders 2026 Transformation Priorities

US Business Leaders' View on the Impact of Global Events on 2026

US Business Leaders 2026 Economic Outlook

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Thursday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country over allegations of spying, charges that were dismissed as “baseless” by the U.K.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, known by its Russian acronym FSB, alleged the member of embassy staff had worked for British intelligence. It did not provide evidence.

Russia Foreign Ministry said in a statement the diplomat’s accreditation has been revoked and that the individual must now leave the country within two weeks. The U.K.’s charge d’affaires in Russia, Danae Dholakia, was summoned to the ministry's Moscow headquarters to receive the notice.

“Moscow will not tolerate the work of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said. It also said that it would respond in kind to any action taken by London on the issue.

The U.K.'s Foreign Office said it was “carefully considering” a response to Russia’s expulsion of a British diplomat, saying this was not the first time the Kremlin had made “malicious and baseless" accusations against staff.

“Their targeting of British diplomats comes out of desperation and actions like this undermine the basic conditions required for diplomatic missions to operate," the office said.

Russia and NATO allies have carried out multiple rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow previously expelled two British diplomats based in Moscow over spying allegations in March 2025. The U.K. also said those accusations were false.

FILE - Birds fly with the British Embassy building at center in the background in Moscow, Russia, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)