In the view of PNC’s Head of Commercial Banking Mike Willetts, the economic outlook for the remainder of 2025 can be summed up in one word: uncertainty.

“Coming into 2025, we had a fairly optimistic view about what the business environment might be like, but the last few months have presented a lot of variables, particularly in terms of trade policy and its potential downstream impacts on businesses and the economy overall,” Willetts said. “While the economy is still on a relatively solid financial footing, this backdrop has created a setting in which many business leaders lack confidence in what next steps are most appropriate to protect the health and growth of their companies, and some industries are likely to be more impacted than others.”

However, even amid the ongoing uncertainty, there are some concrete actions businesses can take to find some measure of certainty and protect against volatility.

  • Supply chain – It remains to be seen what the potential impacts from tariff policy are likely to be, but in the interim, businesses can benefit by looking at their supply chains. It’s important to evaluate if suppliers are as diverse as they should be, in the event something unanticipated or disadvantageous were to occur in terms of trade policy.
  • Pricing – As cost pressures increase, it behooves businesses to examine their margins, to think about how they are pricing products and how the market is likely to react to that pricing.
  • Hedging strategies – Amid the uncertainty, borrowers looking for ways to deploy strategies to help manage interest rate risk might consider interest rate derivatives as an effective tactic.
  • Efficiency – Digital treasury management solutions can play a pivotal role in helping businesses manage costs through realizing streamlined operations and becoming more efficient.

Perhaps the more important approach business leaders can take, according to Willetts, is to stay connected with their bank. “When there are so many unknowns, it makes relying on advisors who are informed and connected all the more critical,” said Willetts. “PNC is built for times like these. We have a long track record of strength and stability during uncertain or difficult times, and we are here to help support and guide our clients.”

Brilliant Begins Here

PNC Commercial Banking can offer insight into technologies, products, and processes that can help businesses seize opportunities, today and in the future. For more information, reach out to your PNC Relationship Manager, or contact us.