A new survey suggests that business leaders—after three years of navigating economic uncertainty and complex challenges—finally are experiencing some optimism about the economic and business environment, as well as about their company's ability to mitigate risk.

"The PwC Pulse Survey: Focus on reinvention," conducted by the PwC network of firms in 152 countries, gathered responses from more than 600 U.S. executives in early August. The survey indicates that business leaders also are less concerned about cyberattacks and the U.S. regulatory environment than they were a year ago. What's more, only 17 percent of respondents strongly agree that there will be a recession in the next six months, down from 35 percent in August 2022.

"Business leaders have continued to demonstrate resilience and adaptability while navigating a complex environment in recent years," Neil Dhar, vice chair-U.S. consulting solutions co-leader for PwC U.S., said in a statement. "As worries about the economy ease, executives are increasingly comfortable future-proofing their businesses by pursuing investment alternatives focused on growth and operating model efficiencies—all underpinned by technology and a focus on delivering outcomes for their stakeholders."