Recognizing opportunities and obstacles your business faces, as well as how industry peers and other organizations are reacting, can provide insights to your own standing and where you may need to bridge gaps. It can also help you establish benchmarks to achieve your goals more efficiently.

Understanding how impactful access to market data can be, our 2026 Mid-Market Report compiles survey results from business leaders across industries and markets.

Explore the full report or dig into section snapshots:

• For owners and CEOs: Data to help middle-market companies beat uncertainty in 2026
• How your middle-market company can compete in 2026—operational efficiency, technology, talent, and future planning
• Six high-impact tactics to consider for this year

Although the data in the report reflects short-term economic concerns, respondents also focused on other long-term uncertainties, including:

• Supply chain disruption
• Interest rates
• Inflation
• Industry disruptions

Middle-Market Companies Consider Changes Due to Supply Chain Disruption

Directly impacted by tariffs and regulatory changes, supply chain disruption is an area of concern that currently ranks high for leadership (28%).

Although supply chain concerns centered around a potential recession in 2024, in 2025 80% of leaders made or considered making changes to their supply chain because of tariffs or increased regulatory pressure.

Key Considerations for Potential Supply Chain Changes

• Supply chain resilience and risk mitigation (41%)
• Cost considerations (39%)
• Response speed and flexibility (38%)

Interest Rate Uncertainty Causes Concern for Middle-Market Companies

A chief concern among mid-market CEOs and business owners in the previous report was interest rates, with interest rates coming in as the second biggest concern.

While it appears leaders weren’t as concerned with interest rates in the current report with rates ranking fifth among biggest concerns, 92% of leaders are still managing or preparing for increased costs due to rising interest rates. This is despite rates recently trending down.

Most leaders are concerned rates may lead to increased supplier costs (57%) and higher borrowing costs (56%).

Interest Rate Concerns for 2026

• Reduction of cash flow due to higher interest payments (52%)
• Limited ability to make investments, expansions, equipment purchases, R&D (50%)
• Reduced consumer demand as discretionary spending ebbs (42%)

When asked about their top regulatory or tax concerns, a majority of business owners expressed worries over corporate tax increases (68%); uncertainty due to a constantly shifting regulatory environment (59%) followed.

As with tariffs and tax and regulatory changes, interest rates are another change area beyond leaders’ control. It’s an uncertain fixed cost causing them to evaluate and adjust their variable costs as a means of weathering the rapidly fluctuating economic landscape.

Why Inflation Is a Challenge for Middle-Market Companies

According to the United States Department of the Treasury, as of September 2025 inflation was 3.0% on a 12 month-month basis as measured by the headline consumer price index. This is above the target of 2%.

Not surprisingly, worsening inflation continues to be a key concern for 97% of respondents, up from 23% in 2024.

This significant shift may reflect a general combining of all factors contributing to increased costs, like tariffs and tax and regulatory changes. Leaders see how these elements are interconnected and how they contribute to increasing inflation overall.

CEOs and Owners Watch for New Industry Disruptions

Although most respondents are focused on navigating the uncertain economic landscape, many leaders (42%) are also alert for disturbances from new areas.

Most of the leaders thinking about this topic are concerned that their competitors have a better product or service (58%). This is a change from our previous report when business owners were more concerned with new industry disruptors or new entrants.

These leaders also see business interference (53%) and being undercut on pricing (52%) as key components of this issue.

Given how tariffs and tax and regulatory changes are impacting the economy, these concerns reflect respondents’ close watch on all factors of their business landscape for signs that they need to pivot.

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For more information or help with these challenges, contact your firm professional.

Additional Resources

• Strategy & Operations Consulting Practice
• Assurance Services