Florida business leaders remained broadly confident in the state’s economy in the first quarter of 2026, with executives reporting strong expectations for investment, hiring and sales over the next six months, according to a new survey from The Florida Council of 100.
The survey’s capital expenditure subindex rose to 91 from 88 in the previous quarter, marking the highest level recorded since the council began tracking the data. The increase suggests continued plans among large employers to invest in expansion, infrastructure and innovation.
“What we’re seeing is alignment among Florida’s leading CEOs around continued investment and growth,” said Mike Simas, president and CEO of The Florida Council of 100. “When that many business leaders are moving in the same direction, it’s a strong signal about where the economy is heading.”
While expectations for sales and employment edged down from the prior quarter, both remained elevated, according to the survey. The employment subindex came in at 95, compared with a national reading of 50, indicating that Florida executives still expect relatively strong hiring conditions.
The Florida Council of 100, a private, nonpartisan organization of business leaders, conducts the quarterly index to measure executive sentiment and expectations for the economy. The Q1 survey was conducted from March 11 through March 18. The results reflect business sentiment rather than hard economic data, but they suggest Florida’s largest employers continue to see favorable conditions for expansion in the months ahead.
