The Dun & Bradstreet Global Business Optimism Insights quarterly report (GBOI) provides analysis and insights based on five indices: Global Business Optimism Index, Global Business Supply Chain Continuity Index, Global Business Financial Confidence Index, Global Business Investment Confidence Index, and Global Business ESG Index.
Overall, across the indexes that tracked financial, investment, and operating sentiment, Germany, France, and Japan saw some of the steeper declines, interestingly U.K. showed improved confidence across multiple indexes. India, Nigeria, and Türkiye recorded gains notably in financial conditions and sustainability-related activities.
Risk-mitigation strategies in response to lower confidence levels due to trade frictions, tariff risks, and regulatory volatility “reinforce the case for friendshoring, nearshoring, and multi-sourcing.”
Individual Indexes Quarter Over Quarter for Q3 2025:
The Global Business Optimism Index declined 6.5% due to concerns with tariff uncertainty and slower trade with emerging economies reveiling stronger domestic confidence than advanced economies. Sectors tied to U.S. trade, especailly metals, saw steep declines.
The Global Business Investment Confidence Index fell 13.1%, which is the most drastic drop since 2023 when the survey began. “The disruption to supply chains caused by tariffs, rather than the threat to trade itself,” was as the key factor.
The Global Business Supply Chain Continuity Index saw a 9.7% decline for both advanced economies (-9.7%) and emerging economies (-9.8%). Manufacturing significantly fell13.6% and services sector businesses dropped 7.5%.
The Global Business Financial Confidence Index weakened 3.4% due to “intensifying trade policy uncertainty, persistent inflation, and weakening global growth strain business viability.”
The Global Business ESG Index stayed stable with medium-sized businesses in emerging economies showing stronger gains and large businesses in advanced economies seeing declines.
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