Key Findings

  • Despite CFO confidence in the U.S. economy hitting a historic low, they are still increasing technology investments, according to a survey released Wednesday by Grant Thornton.
  • Only 37% of finance leaders are optimistic about the U.S. economic outlook over the next six months, the lowest in 20 quarters; however, 67% of respondents expect to increase spending on information technology and digital transformation over the next year, with artificial intelligence becoming a more important business priority.
  • "Leading leaders are using AI to create new revenue opportunities and build innovative ways to grow," said Mike Desmond, Grant Thornton's leader of audit growth, in a press release.

Deeper Insights

The survey of nearly 240 finance leaders found that pessimists outnumbered optimists for the first time after several consecutive quarters, with factors such as inflation, tariffs, and geopolitical instability weighing on business sentiment.

67% of respondents expect inflation to rise over the next 12 months, while about 66% said tariffs, energy disruptions, and supply chain challenges will have at least a moderate impact on their businesses.

Despite these concerns, CFOs remain relatively optimistic about their own companies' prospects. Nearly seven in ten respondents expect profit growth over the next 12 months, only slightly lower than the previous quarter.

Technology spending is becoming an increasing priority. 48% of finance leaders rank technology upgrades as their organization's top priority, up 13 percentage points from the first quarter.

The vast majority (97%) of organizations are piloting, scaling, or fully integrating AI into operations, but Grant Thornton found that many still face challenges in keeping governance, risk management, and internal controls in step with the pace of adoption.

"These investments require rigorous oversight. CFOs need clear processes to confirm return on investment and enforce accountability," said Mike Hennessey, a partner in Grant Thornton's financial modernization practice, in Wednesday's press release.