Page-Harris Poll: Confidence in Business Index 2026

Executives are operating under immense pressure: expectations for business leadership are rising while credibility is under strain. The CCO's role is critical for economic impact and organizational relevance, yet stakeholder trust is increasingly shaped by fragmented channels like search, social platforms and generative AI rather than traditional intermediaries. To help members navigate this fast-moving and complex environment and guide their organizations, Page partnered again with The Harris Poll to conduct research providing essential consumer perspectives on the operating landscape.

The 2026 Page and Harris Confidence in Business Index is our fourth global study examining public expectations of business and confidence in companies’ ability to deliver positive impact across 14 markets. The findings reveal a widening gap between expectations and confidence, particularly around economic impact, and show how priorities and perceptions differ sharply by generation, geography and issue area. Together, the results provide insight into where credibility is being lost and where it can be rebuilt.

What the Research Shows

• Economic impact for everyone is the number one global expectation of business, yet confidence lags far behind expectations
• Confidence remains low because most people see little evidence of company action or clear context
• Generational differences are pronounced, with Gen Z prioritizing mental health and older generations placing greater emphasis on corruption
• Search and generative AI now play a central role in how credibility is formed, reshaping trust across markets and generations

Why This Matters for CCOs

Credibility is the result of demonstrated action and clear explanation, not merely messaging, as highlighted in this year's report. These findings underscore the vital role of CCOs in connecting business strategy to visible impact and ensuring that corporate actions are understood and trusted. 

Page will be working with the Harris Poll to share regional perspectives from this survey throughout the year, providing many opportunities to see and say what the opportunity is for CCOs to prove it with action.