{
  "id": 9343602,
  "title": "Corporate finance chiefs lift inflation outlook, cite rates as concern - Fed survey",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/corporate-finance-chiefs-lift-inflation-outlook-cite-rates-as-concern",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-23T13:43:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/corporate-finance-chiefs-lift-inflation-outlook-cite-rates-as-concern--fed-survey-4912679"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Corporate finance chiefs anticipate higher inflation for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, according to a recent Federal Reserve survey of around 500 firms. Prices are expected to rise by an average of 5.3% this year, up from 4.6% in the second quarter and 3.6% at the start of the year. Projections for next year stand at 4.5%, compared to 4.1% in the second quarter and 3.6% at the beginning of the year. Despite this, finance chiefs have shifted their primary concern from inflation to monetary policy, with about 20% citing it as their top worry, up from less than 15% in the previous survey. This change in focus reflects their pricing strategies as the Federal Reserve tightens rates to combat inflation, which they fear is becoming broader and more persistent.\n\nThe survey, conducted between August 17 and September 4, also revealed that while overall economic optimism among financial officers remains high, smaller businesses are experiencing more significant financing concerns. Roughly 20% of small firms reported that financing constraints were impeding their expansion plans or making it difficult to cover costs. On average, firms anticipate less capital investment in the coming six months compared to six months ago.\n\nDespite the challenges, about 42% of firms planning no investment at the moment cited unfavorable financing or a need to preserve cash as the reason, up from 32% six months prior. Fed officials maintain that current financial conditions are not restrictive, but smaller firms are more likely to be affected by unfavorable financing or the need to hold onto cash.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}