North American CEOs confidence

Surveys in August 2026 show that CEOs across North America are navigating divergent sentiment amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. In Mexico, executives remain steady, with the EY‑Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey reporting unchanged confidence despite a global drop in optimism. Mexican leaders view the broader North American market as a strategic hub and rank Mexico as the top investment destination for the coming year, while monitoring AI, supply‑chain and cybersecurity risks.

In the United States, a Sentry survey reveals heightened concern: 82% of U.S. executives say they are more worried about their businesses than a year earlier, and 88% cite rapid geopolitical events as complicating risk management. Nevertheless, the Conference Board’s Q3 CEO Confidence Index rose modestly, reflecting optimism tied to easing Middle‑East tensions and lower oil prices. U.S. CEOs rank cybersecurity and AI as leading risks, followed by geopolitics, and anticipate a more positive outlook for hiring.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a region‑wide pattern where CEOs acknowledge geopolitical pressures but differ in the balance of concern and optimism, with Mexican leaders maintaining confidence and U.S. leaders expressing increased caution yet modestly improving sentiment.