Top CEOs warn of possible recession

A group of top U.S. CEOs said Wednesday that the economic outlook is uncertain, with some warning of a possible recession.

The CEOs, who spoke at the CNBC CEO Council Summit, said that inflation is a significant concern and that they are watching the Federal Reserve's efforts to combat it. They also noted that the war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic contribute to uncertainty.

"I'm not sure history has ever seen this before," said Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. "We have a lot of different things going on at the same time."

Solomon said that he expects inflation to remain elevated for the rest of the year but believes the economy will avoid a recession. However, he said that the economy may slow down.

Other CEOs at the summit were more pessimistic.

"I think we're in for a tough time," said XPO Logistics CEO Mario Harik. "I think there's a good possibility of a recession."

Harik said the labor market is a significant concern, as there are not enough workers to fill open jobs. He also said that the war in Ukraine is hurting the global economy.

The CEOs' comments come as the U.S. economy faces several challenges. Inflation is at a 40-year high, and the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates several times this year to combat it. The war in Ukraine also hurts the global economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic is still a significant concern.

How CEOs Should Be Thinking About the Issue

CEOs should be aware of the economic challenges that the U.S. is facing and should take steps to mitigate their risk. This includes:

• Increasing prices: CEOs should be prepared to raise prices to offset the cost of inflation.
• Reducing costs: CEOs should look for ways to reduce costs, such as negotiating better deals with suppliers or reducing employee benefits.
• Building cash reserves: CEOs should make cash reserves to weather any economic downturn.
• Diversifying their businesses: CEOs should diversify their businesses to reduce reliance on any market or sector.