Dun & Bradstreet Global Business Optimism Insights Report Reveals Cautious Economic Outlook for Q1 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE:DNB) released its Q1 2025 Global Business Optimism Insights report, revealing a 12.9% quarter-over-quarter decline in the Global Business Optimism Index. The survey, conducted in November 2024, reflects growing concerns over weak economic growth, geopolitical risks, and trade uncertainties.

Key findings show that while all 32 surveyed economies experienced a downturn, 30 economies maintain optimism levels above Q1 2024. The Global Supply Chain Continuity Index fell by 10.4%, while the Business Financial Confidence Index declined by 8.9%. Large businesses showed improved optimism (+10.7%), but medium-sized businesses faced significant challenges with a 36% decline in optimism. Small businesses experienced a moderate 3.5% decline.

The Global Business Investment Confidence Index decreased by 4.7%, though remaining 12% above the 5-quarter average. The Global Business ESG Index rose by 2.4%, indicating continued focus on sustainability despite economic challenges.

Positive

• Large businesses showed 10.7% improvement in optimism
• ESG Index rose 2.4%
• 30 of 32 economies maintain optimism levels above Q1 2024
• M&A environment remains favorable with 78% businesses anticipating conducive conditions

Negative

• Global Business Optimism Index declined 12.9% QoQ
• Supply Chain Continuity Index deteriorated 10.4%
• Business Financial Confidence Index fell 8.9%
• Medium-sized businesses experienced 36% decline in optimism
• Business Investment Confidence Index decreased 4.7%
• Decline in businesses needing to raise long-term funds from 71% to 66%

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The latest Global Business Optimism Insights report from Dun & Bradstreet presents a complex picture that could significantly impact both DNB's business model and broader market dynamics. The 12.9% decline in the Global Business Optimism Index represents a pivotal shift in business sentiment that requires careful analysis.

Looking at the core metrics:

• The 8.9% drop in the Financial Confidence Index suggests potential headwinds for financial services, particularly affecting credit reporting and risk assessment services - DNB's primary revenue streams.
• Medium-sized businesses showing a dramatic 36% decline in optimism is particularly concerning, as this segment represents a important customer base for DNB's services.
• Large businesses' 10.7% improvement in optimism, coupled with strong M&A sentiment (78% positive outlook), indicates potential opportunities in DNB's higher-margin enterprise solutions and M&A advisory data services.

The divergence between business segments presents both challenges and opportunities for DNB. While the declining optimism among medium-sized businesses might pressure near-term revenue from this segment, the increased complexity in risk assessment and supplier evaluation could drive demand for DNB's core services. The robust M&A outlook could boost demand for DNB's data analytics and due diligence services.

Think of DNB's position like a weather station during a storm - while general conditions may be turbulent, their services become more vital as businesses need accurate data to navigate uncertainty. The 10.4% deterioration in the Global Supply Chain Continuity Index particularly emphasizes this, as businesses will likely increase their reliance on DNB's supplier risk management solutions.

For investors, these mixed signals suggest DNB could see increased demand for its risk management and business intelligence services, despite broader economic challenges. However, the pressure on medium-sized businesses - a key customer segment - warrants close monitoring in upcoming quarterly results.

Slow economic growth, rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing trade uncertainties drive down overall optimism levels

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE:DNB), a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, today released its Q1 2025 Global Business Optimism Insights report. The survey, conducted during November 2024, revealed a 12.9% quarter-over-quarter decline in the Global Business Optimism Index for Q1 2025, reflective of growing concerns over weak economic growth, rising geopolitical risks, and trade policy uncertainties.

This shift suggests a redirection from previously elevated optimism levels seen in the latter half of 2024 and indicates a more cautious approach by businesses, particularly in terms of supply chain stability and investment strategies. The anticipation of policy changes from the new U.S. administration may have also contributed to lower optimism. Despite this quarterly decline, 30 of 32 economies show optimism levels above those seen in Q1 2024, signaling a correction from previously elevated optimism levels rather than a bleak outlook.

“Survey respondents have a guarded outlook for the quarter ahead due to the evolving economic and political landscape that may impact how the world does business,” said Neeraj Sahai, President of Dun & Bradstreet International. “Optimism levels for supply chain risks vary across business size with large businesses indicating increased optimism and resilience by leveraging their economies of scale and reliance on alternative sourcing. Medium-sized businesses experienced the sharpest deterioration with a 36% decline, indicating that these businesses have not been able to counter the challenges posed by cross-country trade, while simultaneously facing insufficient local supplies, further showing heightened concern on the supply chain continuity front. Small businesses had a moderate decline of 3.5%.”

Key findings from the Q1 2025 report:

• The Global Business Optimism Index dropped by 12.9%, its first decline since the series began, with all 32 surveyed economies seeing a downturn, reflecting heightened economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and sluggish growth. However, for over 90% of the economies, the optimism levels remain above Q1 2024, signaling a correction from previously elevated optimism levels.
  • Over 80% of the economies reported a decline in optimism for new export orders, with almost half of them having more than 10% trade exposure to either the U.S. or the Chinese Mainland.
    

• The Global Supply Chain Continuity Index deteriorated by 10.4% after three quarters of improvement. Persistent challenges such as freight costs, container shortages, and geopolitical disruptions, as well as payment delays, contributed to this decline.
  • Optimism among large businesses improved 10.7% due to their economies of scale and reliance on alternative sourcing. Medium-sized businesses lagged with 66% reporting lower optimism. Small businesses, despite a 3.5% decline, are optimistic about delivery times, delivery costs, and supplier concentration due to their ability to source locally and relocate production bases.
    

• The Global Business Financial Confidence Index declined 8.9%, for both advanced and emerging economies, with over 90% of the economies reporting a decline in their financial confidence index.
  • This decline can be attributed to the uncertain macroeconomic environment, weak demand outlook, increased balance sheet risk, and declining financial risk appetite, especially among small and medium-sized businesses. Optimism among large businesses, in contrast, improved 12.7%.
    

• The Global Business Investment Confidence Index decreased by 4.7%, though it is still 12% higher than the 5-quarter average, reflecting commitments by many central banks to lower their policy rates.
  • Globally, 66% of businesses reported a need to raise long-term funds, a significant decline from 71% in the previous quarter. M&A activity remains a bright spot, with 78% of businesses anticipating a conducive environment.
    

• The Global Business ESG Index rose 2.4%, highlighting businesses’ focus on sustainability despite challenging economic conditions.
  • Notably, responses highlighted the differing strategies between the U.S. and the European Union to increase budgets for sustainability initiatives in Q1, particularly in automotive manufacturing spending, likely due to varying expectations of policy changes that may impact budget allocations.

"Businesses have entered the new year with subdued expectations for Q1 2025 and are grappling with supplier risk as only 51% of businesses expressed confidence in managing supplier concentration risk, compared with 59% in Q4,” said Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist at Dun & Bradstreet. "Further, central banks globally are implementing interest rate cuts, yet the cost of capital is perceived to remain elevated, indicating heightened credit risk. This is also accentuated by lower optimism for sales and profitability.”

Descriptions and information about the indices can be found on page 31 of the report.

About the Global Business Optimism Insights Report

The Global Business Optimism Insights report is a synthesis of data from a comprehensive survey encompassing 32 economies, covering approximately 10,000 businesses and 17 sectors, alongside insights from Dun & Bradstreet, leveraging the firm’s proprietary data and economic expertise. The report is an amalgamation of five indices which reflect overall business optimism and expectations about supply chain continuity, financial and investment conditions and ESG initiatives. An index reading above 100 indicates an improvement in optimism relative to the base year, while an index reading below 100 signifies a deterioration in optimism.

View the full report here.

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk, and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit www.dnb.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250122979165/en/

Media:

Ginny Walthour

904-528-1506

walthourg@dnb.com

Source: Dun & Bradstreet

FAQ

What caused the 12.9% decline in DNB's Global Business Optimism Index for Q1 2025?

The decline was driven by weak economic growth, rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing trade uncertainties, as revealed in the survey conducted in November 2024.

How did different business segments perform in DNB's Q1 2025 optimism report?

Large businesses showed 10.7% improved optimism, medium-sized businesses experienced a 36% decline, and small businesses had a moderate 3.5% decline.

What is the current state of DNB's Global Supply Chain Continuity Index?

The index deteriorated by 10.4% due to challenges including freight costs, container shortages, geopolitical disruptions, and payment delays.

How did DNB's Global Business Investment Confidence Index perform for Q1 2025?

The index decreased by 4.7%, though it remains 12% higher than the 5-quarter average, reflecting central banks' commitments to lower policy rates.

What was the performance of DNB's Global Business ESG Index in the latest report?

The Global Business ESG Index rose 2.4%, showing businesses' continued focus on sustainability despite challenging economic conditions.