Throughout 2025, uncertainty has been a key theme in the economic environment. Historically, this lack of clarity about where business conditions are headed might leave businesses in a wait-and-see mode. But that wasn’t the case in the recently released results of PNC’s Inside the Minds of CFOs survey, which polled 300 U.S.-based chief financial officers (CFOs) about how uncertainty in the broader economic outlook may impact their business strategy.
“The message is that our country is still very entrepreneurial, even for big companies,” head of PNC Corporate Banking Terry Begley said. “It’s a great commentary on business in the United States, and a good sign for the U.S. economy that people can change their businesses.”
In fact, 70% of U.S. CFOs surveyed say this year’s uncertainty in the economic outlook positively affected their companies. The fluctuating environment forced their operations to become more nimble and innovative, which drove improved business outcomes.
“As the environment changes rapidly, it can expose risks that a company may not be as conscious of when there is more stability,” head of PNC Commercial Banking Mike Willetts said. “It pushes business leaders to manage risk thoughtfully by identifying levers for quick response.”
Streamlining operations to help find efficiencies can help free up resources to focus on value-added tasks. Simplifying processes to remove unnecessary steps, implementing automation to replace manual tasks, and reviewing every relationship to ensure it’s operating at peak performance are just a few ways to increase agility.
“Now is a great time to think through every aspect of business – from processes, to vendor relationships, even every job they have– to consider where they can find incremental improvements in their operations,” Willetts said. “A lot of companies think about how they can continue to grow, but you have to go through every segment of your business with a fine-tooth comb to find ways to become more nimble.”
Staying on top of industry trends and sharing best practices with peers may also help to uncover creative ways to work within an ever-changing landscape. While competition is fierce, adaptability can help to transform entire industries.
“Talk to your peers and centers of influence, such as your banking partner, to see what trends are out there,” Begley said. “As the economy continues to move quickly, companies should be monitoring their industry more than ever, and we can help to facilitate that.”
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If you are interested in developing financial strategies to navigate the challenging economic climate, your PNC Relationship Manager can help. Contact us or learn more here.
