Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan Predicts Tariffs Will Ease in 2026

Group 1 - Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan predicts a de-escalation of tariff-related tensions in the upcoming year, with an average tariff rate of 15% expected [2][3] - Moynihan indicates that the Trump administration will focus on de-escalation rather than escalation, suggesting that the increase from 10% to 15% tariffs will not have a significant impact on most countries [2] - The CEO highlights that small businesses are facing challenges beyond tariffs, including labor shortages due to unsettled immigration policies [3] Group 2 - A PYMNTS Intelligence report indicates that nearly half of product leaders at U.S. firms with annual revenues between $100 million and $1 billion report that tariffs are affecting their business finances [3] - Companies are currently dealing with an information vacuum due to the federal government's cancellation of the advance estimate of third-quarter GDP and delayed retail sales reports, which has created uncertainty regarding demand and economic momentum [4] - The report emphasizes that the real impact of tariffs has been the emergence of significant financial, legal, and reputational threats due to overlooked vendor oversight in supply chains [5]