Research & Commentary
These posts provide analysis and commentary on quarterly survey results, including results from special questions. To read news articles about The CFO Survey, visit our Media Mentions page.
In this report, we investigate how the firms that adopted automation differ — in performance and expectations — from those that did not adopt automation.
This quarter's Research & Commentary digs into an important question facing policymakers: whether the constellation of economic indicators have returned close enough to "normal" levels to merit a reconsideration of the monetary policy stance.
In the most recent CFO survey, financial decision-makers shared whether interest rate hikes have caused them to pull back on their spending plans, and for those not yet affected, whether further hikes would impact their firm. Compared to the fourth quarter of last year, a higher percentage of firms reported that interest rates have curtailed capital and non-capital spending plans.
The current outlook of small firms is noticeably worse than for large firms. On average, small firms report being more affected by tight financing conditions, are less optimistic about the economy and their own prospects, and expect lower revenue growth in 2023.
In the first quarter 2023 CFO Survey, an increasing share of firms cited 'unfavorable financing' and a 'lack of funding' as reasons for not engaging in capital investment. This evidence suggests that firms are beginning to feel the effects of higher interest rates as monetary policy continues to tighten.
Results from the fourth quarter 2022 CFO Survey indicate that although monetary policy has grown as a key concern for respondents, most note that current interest rate levels have not affected their capital or non-capital spending plans. We also find evidence that if employers were looking to raise wages to account for inflation in 2022, the catch-up was only partial.
In the third quarter 2022 CFO Survey, more firms reported elevated cost increases and the ability to pass a larger chunk of those cost increases on via price increases.
In this podcast, Richmond Fed economist Sonya Waddell shares insights from the second quarter CFO Survey.
The second quarter results from The CFO Survey reveal growing concerns about the outlook for the U.S. economy. Firms continue to struggle amid the high inflation environment and against a backdrop of further removal of monetary accommodation.
The first quarter CFO Survey revealed firms’ dampened optimism about the U.S. economy and lower projections for real GDP growth and equity market performance. At the same time, firms are hampered by hiring difficulties that are restraining revenue growth.
Brent Meyer, John Graham, Emil Mihaylov, and Sonya Ravindranath Waddell
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