Global Economic Conditions Survey

The Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) is one of the most comprehensive surveys of its kind, both for its number of respondents and for the range of economic variables it monitors. IMA and ACCA members from around the world share their insider views on the macro-economic environment as they see it. Within themed countries and regions, the GECS is regarded as a good predictor of GDP growth. Its correlations with the VIX, or “fear,” index are well-established. It is a trusted source for gauging the overall performance of the global economy.

Three levels of analysis are provided:

• Global: Providing an overall picture of respondent confidence
• Thematic: Weighing in on socio-political trends
• Regional: Interpreting policy changes, government actions, and current events in 9 regions

Key Findings of the Second Quarter 2026 Survey

• Global accountants’ confidence recovers from near-record lows in Q1, though it remains fragile and below historical averages in North America and Western Europe.
• 83% of CFOs reported rising costs following a record jump of over 20 percentage points from Q1.
• Global New Orders and Capital Expenditure and Employment indices declined, although they don’t appear to point to a major economic slowdown.
• Confidence is meaningfully above average in the Asia-Pacific region owing to hopes of potential resolution of conflict in the Middle East, resilience of the global economy, and the AI boom, which the region’s exporters are major beneficiaries.
• The Middle East conflict continues to push up oil and commodity prices, driving operating costs to record highs for accountants worldwide.
• Economic pressures reclaim the top spot among global accountants’ risk priorities in Q2, overtaking geopolitical instability and cybersecurity.