CEO Confidence Wanes

Last week we learned that the consumer-price index increased 8.6% in May from the same month a year ago – the highest reading since December 1981. With this development, the Fed is expected to continue to raise interest rates in an attempt to tighten financial conditions. This week we will receive retail sales and consumer sentiment information. We will be interested to see if there continues to be a discrepancy between negative consumer sentiment and relatively strong consumer spending. On the corporate side, CEO business confidence is starting to wane as worries mount over the rising costs of production, labor, energy, and supply chain-related logistics. CEO confidence levels are correlated with corporate profits – serving as an important data point that helps us monitor the speed of the slowdown. The debate over a soft landing vs. hard landing continues across markets. At this point, we’re still leaning towards a near-term baseline scenario of a softer landing. But if the pace of the slowdown accelerates, as this CEO confidence data seems to suggest, the risk of a hard landing is likely to rise.


This presentation may not be distributed, transmitted or otherwise communicated to others in whole or in part without the express consent of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Apollo”).  

Apollo makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy, reasonableness, or completeness of any of the statements made during this presentation, including, but not limited to, statements obtained from third parties. Opinions, estimates and projections constitute the current judgment of the speaker as of the date indicated. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Apollo and are subject to change at any time without notice. Apollo does not have any responsibility to update this presentation to account for such changes. There can be no assurance that any trends discussed during this presentation will continue.   

Statements made throughout this presentation are not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal or tax advice and do not constitute an investment recommendation or investment advice. Investors should make an independent investigation of the information discussed during this presentation, including consulting their tax, legal, accounting or other advisors about such information. Apollo does not act for you and is not responsible for providing you with the protections afforded to its clients. This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, product or service, including interest in any investment product or fund or account managed or advised by Apollo. 

Certain statements made throughout this presentation may be “forward-looking” in nature. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual events or results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking information. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology including, but not limited to, “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target”, “project”, “estimate”, “intend”, “continue” or “believe” or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology.

Related Content