Survey respondents aren’t shy about placing blame.
By CPA Trendlines Research
If you’re getting a little nervous about the general business environment, you’re not alone.
The 2025 CPA Trendlines Busy Season Barometer has picked up a serious swing toward pessimism among the professionals who know the numbers.
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Before the inauguration, the outlook for the nation’s economy was moderately hunky-dory. Almost 60 percent of respondents predicted the economy would get better over the next 12-18 months. Only 26 percent figured it would get worse.
Pessimism Doubles
That was then. This is now. By the Ides of March, 68 percent saw an economic downturn, and only 21 percent were optimistic. Now, by the second week of April, 74 percent are hunkering in the pessimist camp. In fact, the share of those who fear things will get “much worse” has doubled from 14.5 to 29 percent.
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