• U.S. Bancorp CFO survey showed rising optimism on the U.S. economy, with 68% positive on the three-year outlook, up from 58%.
• Growth focus strengthened, with revenue growth nearly matching cost-cutting as a top finance priority at 35% versus 37%.
• M&A appetite increased, with exploring acquisitions moving into the top three priorities; 59% expect higher industry deal activity.
• AI investment emerged as a commercial tailwind, with 69% citing meaningful opportunity; 51% reported AI tool spending exceeded budget.
• Top macro risks stayed elevated, led by geopolitics at 38%, high borrowing costs at 35%, inflation at 34%.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. U.S. Bancorp published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 202609290957BIZWIRE_USPR_____20260929_BW120677) on September 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.