U.S. Executive Confidence Plummets Amid Global Instability

The 2026 C-Suite Stress Index shows that nearly every executive surveyed—98%—has overhauled their approach to risk management and long-term planning to counter a volatile climate. Driven by shifting trade policies and geopolitical friction, leadership teams are shrinking their planning horizons and piling on contingency measures. Jeff Cole, Assistant Vice President of National Accounts at Sentry, notes that the primary challenge is no longer the risk itself, but the velocity at which these interconnected threats evolve.

Supply chain logistics now weigh on 62% of executives, a 17-point jump since January, while concerns regarding tariffs and labor shortages have climbed to 52% and 49% respectively. Small businesses face the steepest climb; executives at firms with 10–49 employees report a 21-percentage point surge in anxiety compared to the beginning of the year. Brett Hoopingarner, National Sales Director at Sentry, suggests that while smaller companies lack the deep buffers of large corporations, their survival depends on constant risk evaluation and agile decision-making alongside trusted advisors.