U.S. Productivity Revised Down to 0.4% for Q1

U.S. worker productivity grew at a slower pace in the first quarter than originally thought, continuing a sluggish trend that threatens the Trump administration’s target for economic growth.The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the January-March productivity increase had been revised down ...

By Matthew Heller • June 6, 2018

How to Overcome Obstacles to Strategy Execution

Some companies tap the finance department mostly for raising capital, closing books, and implementing controls. And it’s true, of course, that a key function of finance is ensuring accurate reporting and preservation of capital and assets.Lisa Kaplowitz However, the CFO and his or her team can an...

By Lisa Kaplowitz • May 23, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Tax policy shifts: What CFOs need to know to stay ahead

Discover how evolving tax policies are creating new opportunities and challenges for CFOs.

By CFO.com staff

Industrial CFO Leads Advanced Analytics Drive

This is the second of two articles based on a conversation with Donald Allan, CFO of Fortune 500 toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker.In the first part of our report, Don Allan talked about two types of transformation that he and his finance team are executing.Both are technological in nature. On...

By David McCann • May 21, 2018

Ex-Healthcare CFO Accused of $309M Fraud

The former CFO and two other former executives of Constellation Healthcare Technologies have been charged with duping an investor into acquiring the medical-billing company for $309 million by misrepresenting its financial condition.The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday th...

By Matthew Heller • May 17, 2018

U.S. Industrial Output Rises 0.7% in April

U.S. industrial production rose slightly faster than expected in April, a third straight monthly increase that was supported by gains in every major market group.The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that output expanded 0.7% last month, just topping Wall Street expectations of a 0.6% increase. Desp...

By Matthew Heller • May 16, 2018

Kellogg Shuts Down Cereal Plant in Venezuela

Venezuela on Wednesday reactivated a Kellogg plant under work control, a day after the cereal maker joined an exodus of U.S. companies from the crisis-wracked country.Kellogg cited the “current economic and social deterioration” in Venezuela in announcing Tuesday the closure of its plant in the c...

By Matthew Heller • May 16, 2018

U.S. Consumer Prices Edge up 0.2% in April

The steady rise in U.S. inflation resumed in April, though the increase in core consumer prices was tempered by a slowdown in the growth of healthcare costs.The Labor Department said the consumer price index gained 0.2% last month after slipping 0.1% in March. Gasoline prices rebounded with a 3.%...

By Matthew Heller • May 11, 2018

U.S. Blasts China’s Free Trade Posture at WTO

The tensions between the U.S. and China erupted at the World Trade Organization on Tuesday, with Washington’s envoy deriding China’s posture as “the self-proclaimed defender of free trade.”At a meeting in Geneva of the WTO’s General Council, China’s ambassador took the floor to accuse the U.S. of...

By Matthew Heller • May 9, 2018

Delivering the Goods

Restaurant franchisors sell two things: food and franchises. But while the process of vetting potential franchisees has largely remained the same for many years, the process of distributing food to customers is amidst a foundational change.Within just the past two years, the demand for and availa...

By David McCann • May 8, 2018

Iran Deal Concerns Push Oil Prices Above $70

Global oil prices surged on Monday, continuing a rally driven in part by the possibility that the U.S. will reinstate sanctions against OPEC member Iran.President Donald Trump will announce Tuesday whether he will pull the U.S. out of the deal with Iran that lifted sanctions in return for Tehran’...

By Matthew Heller • May 7, 2018

U.S. Trade Deficit Falls 15% to $49 Billion

The U.S. trade deficit fell 15% to a six-month low in March on a surge in exports, ending a streak of increases that had weighed on economic growth.The Commerce Department said the deficit declined to $49 billion in March from $57.7 billion in February, the highest level since October 2008. Econo...

By Matthew Heller • May 4, 2018

U.S. Economy Slows to 2.3% Growth Rate in Q1

U.S. economic growth slowed in the first quarter, fueling doubts that growth for the full year will reach President Donald Trump’s 3% target even with the impact of the Republican tax cuts.In its first estimate, the Commerce Department said gross domestic product increased at a 2.3 percent annual...

By Matthew Heller • April 30, 2018

U.S. Adds Canada to IP ‘Priority Watch List’

The Trump administration on Friday moved Canada to the same “priority” level as China in its list of countries that inadequately protect U.S. intellectual property rights.China has now been on the U.S. Trade Representative’s “Priority Watch List” for 14 straight years, with the 2018 “Special 301 ...

By Matthew Heller • April 27, 2018

U.S. Core Capital Goods Orders Drop 0.1%

A closely-watched proxy for business spending plans unexpectedly fell last month, a strong indication that U.S. economic growth slowed in the first quarter of this year.The Commerce Department reported that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft slipped 0.1% in March. The decline...

By Matthew Heller • April 26, 2018

How to Make Your Supply Chain a Growth Engine

It’s no secret that companies across industries face increasing disruption driven by competitive pressures, emerging technologies, and an ever-expanding range of customer expectations.Gary Hanifan These trends will only continue to accelerate. Consumers want products in their hands faster than ev...

By Gary Hanifan • April 24, 2018

Total World Debt Reaches $164 Trillion in 2016

Global debt climbed to a record high in 2016, the International Monetary Fund reported, urging countries to act fast to build “fiscal buffers” ahead of the next economic downturn.In its half-yearly fiscal monitor report, the IMF said total debt reached $164 trillion in 2016, or 225% of global gro...

By Matthew Heller • April 19, 2018

Maritime Nations Agree to Cut CO2 Emissions

The United Nations body charged with regulating shipping has reached a landmark agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, although its target fell short of some members’ hopes.The International Maritime Organization’s agreement brings “another major constituency on board in the int...

By Matthew Heller • April 16, 2018

Core U.S. Inflation Rate Jumps 2.1% in March

Core U.S. inflation rose at the fastest pace in a year in March, confirming the view of some economists that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates four times this year.The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the core consumer price index, which excludes food and energy prices, advanc...

By Matthew Heller • April 11, 2018

Small-Business Optimism Falls Despite Tax Cuts

The National Federation of Independent Business’s gauge of small-business optimism fell by nearly three points in March, reflecting lower expectations that the economy will improve despite the Republican tax cuts.The federation said its index of small-business optimism dropped to 104.7 last month...

By Matthew Heller • April 10, 2018

Campbell Seeks to ‘Accelerate’ Fresh Food Sales

Campbell’s Soup announced Friday it would create a new “accelerator unit” as it seeks to turn around its money-losing packaged fresh foods business.The company said the accelerator unit would be part of a new corporate structure designed to better position Campbell’s amid a “rapidly changing food...

By Matthew Heller • April 6, 2018

China Hits Back at U.S. in Tariff Tit-for-Tat

A trade battle that started with the U.S. imposing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum has moved on to tofu as China on Wednesday announced 25% duties on soya beans and other critical American exports.China accounts for 60% of U.S. soybean exports, according to Goldman Sachs. “That means a maj...

By Matthew Heller • April 4, 2018

Fed’s Key Inflation Gauge Hits 1.6% in February

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure hit its highest level in almost a year in February, signaling economic growth remains solid despite a slowdown in consumer spending.The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the core personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.2...

By Matthew Heller • March 29, 2018

Fintech’s Focus Shifts Toward Finance

The financial technology industry is maturing at a dizzying pace, having exceeded a combined $31 billion in total funding last year alone, according to KPMG’s recent Pulse of Fintech report.George Sclavos, CFO, Laurel Road With this sustained influx of funding, innovations within the space are mo...

By George Sclavos • March 27, 2018

U.S. Core Capital Goods Orders Jump 1.8%

After two straight months of declines, new orders for key U.S.-made capital goods bounced back in February, easing fears of a slowdown in business spending.The Commerce Department reported that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft — a closely-watched proxy for business spending...

By Matthew Heller • March 26, 2018

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Hits 14-Year High

U.S. consumer sentiment jumped this month to the highest level since 2004, with all of the gain coming from lower-income households that are benefiting from the Republican tax cuts.In its preliminary report for March, the University of Michigan said its index of consumer sentiment rose to 102 fro...

By Matthew Heller • March 19, 2018