Analytics, Business, EU – Baltic States

While overall sentiment remained steady, there were significant shifts in confidence within the major EU economies. France saw a sharp decline in confidence in the weeks preceding the tightly-contested presidential election on 23 April. The Index for France slumped 8.1 points to 54.5, its lowest level since January 2015.

Greece also reported a severe loss of confidence, following its weak economic performance, crashing 11.9 points to 46.2, its lowest point since July 2015 and back in pessimistic territory. Italy saw a more moderate decline, slipping 1.5 points to 59.8.

Germany, on the other hand, enjoyed a strong surge in confidence in the first quarter, gaining 6.4 points to 62.7, its highest level since January 2011. This followed stronger than anticipated growth at the end of 2016 and in the first three months of this year.

The United Kingdom also reported a more positive outlook, jumping 6.0 points to 61.0, its highest level in the past twelve months, and prior to the referendum decision to leave the EU.

"Despite concerns of an economic slowdown, most economies in the EU have continued to strengthen and, in some cases, outperform predictions," said Juan Carlos Fouz Silva, YPO member and CEO of Global Assets Buyout.

"Chief executives in Europe are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, both within the region and beyond, and are operating in an economic and political landscape that is changing by the day. While the climate for business remains relatively favourable at present, chief executives will remain somewhat cautious, particularly with important elections on the horizon in Germany, France and the United Kingdom."

Non-EU Europe reported the lowest level of confidence in the world, falling 2.5 points to 51.8.

Globally, the YPO Global Pulse Index for the first quarter of 2017 edged up 0.3 point to 62.5, its highest level since January 2015. For the second consecutive quarter, the United States reported the highest level of confidence in the world, inching up 0.3 point to 64.9. Confidence in Asia climbed 2.1 points to land at 63.3, its highest level since April 2015. Africa is the second-least confident region globally, edging down 0.3 point to 54.4. Elsewhere, confidence in Latin America dropped by 1.2 points to 57.1, while confidence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region showed the biggest decline, sliding 4.3 points to 55.2.

Brighter outlook on short-term economic conditions

When asked to assess the economic landscape over the next six months, almost half (49%) of EU chief executives believed that conditions would improve, whilst 42% felt that there would be little or no change. Only 9% expected the economic landscape to deteriorate over the next six months. This was a more positive outlook than in the previous survey, conducted in January, when only 40% predicted an improvement and 13% predicted a deterioration in the economic climate over the following six months.

Sales forecasts improve, but hiring and fixed investment forecasts downgraded

EU business leaders remained optimistic about the prospects for revenue growth within their own organisations over the next 12 months. The YPO Sales Confidence Index edged up 0.4 point to 66.9, as nearly two-thirds of CEOs (64%) predicted increased revenue in 2017, compared with only 5% who predicted a decline in sales.

However, business leaders were less optimistic when it came to their hiring intentions. The majority (70%) expected the size of their workforce to remain unchanged over the next 12 months, while 26% expected to increase headcount, and 4% expected to cut staff numbers.

The majority (57%) of CEOs also expected fixed investment levels to remain flat over the next year, while38% expected to increase fixed investment, and 5% predicted a decline.

Confidence slumps in France

Business leaders in France were less optimistic during the quarter under review, amid growing uncertainty surrounding the country's presidential election and the potential for significant shifts in economic policy.

More than a quarter (29%) of French CEOs stated that economic conditions had deteriorated in the previous six months, a significant increase on the previous survey, when only 11% reported worsening conditions.

French business leaders were also notably more cautious about the prospects for their own organisations in the next 12 months. Only 29% predicted increased revenue, down from 66% in the previous quarter. As few as 7% predicted increased headcount, down from 40% in the January survey, and only 29% expected to boost fixed investment levels, down from 55%. The majority of French CEOs expected revenue, employment numbers and fixed investment levels to remain flat over the next year.