U.S. Business Sentiment Falls as Economic Concerns Persist, Principal Financial Well-Being Index℠ Finds
Business Wire•11/11/2026•09:00 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤Business sentiment fell 8% to 6.02, tying its record low.
- ➤Small and midsize businesses fell to an all-time-low sentiment score of 5.28.
- ➤Only 16% of leaders view the U.S. economy as growing.
- ➤93% of employers making 2026 operational adjustments developed or redeployed existing talent.
- ➤Only 3% of employers reduced or eliminated benefits in 2026.
Expert Statements
Amy Friedrich, President, Benefits and Protection, Principal
“The widening gap in sentiment between small and large businesses tells us economic pressure is not landing evenly”
Amy Friedrich, President, Benefits and Protection, Principal
“Small and midsize businesses are feeling the weight of higher costs and economic uncertainty most, and those challenges are shaping their outlook for business performance. Employers of all sizes are responding with practical changes to how their teams are organized and how work gets done. Those adjustments are helping them stay productive while conditions remain uncertain.”
Amy Friedrich, President, Benefits and Protection, Principal
“Employers are committed to keeping their people and supporting their financial security, even as they face mounting external pressures”
Amy Friedrich, President, Benefits and Protection, Principal
“Many remember how hard it was to rebuild their teams after the last economic downturn, and they don’t want to repeat that experience. Their commitment shows up in the benefits they offer, and employers continue to view those programs as important investments in their workforce.”
U.S. Business Sentiment Falls as Economic Concerns Persist, Principal Financial Well-Being Index℠ Finds
Small and midsize business sentiment reaches a record low, while employers maintain staffing and benefits
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