Top CEOs are warning that uncertainty over President Trump’s shifting tariff policies is creating major hurdles for business planning across America.
In interviews with Yahoo Finance, leaders from Whirlpool, Southwest Airlines, Chipotle, T-Mobile, and Procter & Gamble shared how tariffs and weakening consumer confidence are hitting demand and financial forecasts.
🔹 Key Takeaways from CEOs:
- Marc Bitzer (Whirlpool):
Discretionary demand has dropped sharply and hasn’t recovered even into the second quarter. - Bob Jordan (Southwest Airlines):
Tariffs and falling consumer confidence led to a major drop in demand, with second-quarter expectations down six points from January forecasts. - Automotive Executive:
While somewhat less affected, low margins mean tariffs still create pressure. - Scott Boatwright (Chipotle):
Customer frequency has declined, though spending per visit remains steady. - Mike Sievert (T-Mobile):
If tariffs impact smartphones, prices could rise and upgrade cycles could slow significantly. - Jon Moeller (Procter & Gamble):
Despite challenges, P&G will continue investing in innovation, although it lowered sales and profit guidance slightly to reflect the impact of tariffs.
Overall, CEOs are bracing for weaker consumer activity and more unpredictable trading conditions heading into the summer.