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

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

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

EU Suggests U.S. Products for Tariff Retaliation

The European Union on Friday released a list of U.S. exports ranging from rice to playing cards that could be subject to retaliation for President Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.The EU’s move potentially heightens the stakes if Trump refuses to exempt the bloc f...

By Matthew Heller • March 16, 2018

U.S. Consumer Prices Rise 0.2% in February

U.S. consumer prices rose only marginally last month, possibly easing concerns that inflation might be accelerating after a surge in January.The Labor Department said the consumer price index gained 0.2% in February, reflecting in part a 0.9% drop in gasoline prices and a 0.5% drop in the cost of...

By Matthew Heller • March 14, 2018

U.S. Budget Deficit Grows to $215 Billion

The U.S. budget deficit widened to its highest level in six years in February as withholding taxes fell, an early indication of the effects of the Trump administration’s tax cuts.The Treasury Department reported that the U.S. government had a $215 billion budget shortfall last month, compared to ...

By Matthew Heller • March 12, 2018

U.S. Employers Add 313,000 Jobs in February

The U.S. economy powered its way in February to the biggest gain in jobs since July 2016 but what had appeared to be a long-overdue surge in wage growth lost some momentum.The Labor Department reported Friday that non-farm payrolls jumped by 313,000 jobs last month, boosted by the largest rise in...

By Matthew Heller • March 9, 2018

U.S. Trade Gap Climbs 5% in January to $56.6B

The U.S. trade deficit rose in January to its highest level in nine years, delivering another jolt to President Trump’s campaign promise to reduce the gap.The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the trade deficit in goods and services expanded 5.0% from the prior month to a seasonally adj...

By Matthew Heller • March 8, 2018

Rent-A-Center Cuts 250 Jobs, Confirms Offers

Rent-A-Center said Wednesday it had laid off about 25% of its corporate workforce in Plano, Texas, and that it has received offers from bidders interested in acquiring the struggling furniture and equipment rental firm.The layoffs, which were effective immediately, reduced Rent-A-Center’s headcou...

By Matthew Heller • March 7, 2018

Trump’s Steel Tariff Plan Fuels Trade War Fears

President Donald Trump is planning to impose hefty tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, saying U.S. producers needed protection from countries like China but sparking fears of a trade war.Trump’s announcement Thursday was, as BBC News reports, a victory for the steel industry. He said duties o...

By Matthew Heller • March 2, 2018

Core Inflation Measure Jumps 0.3% in January

A gauge of underlying U.S. inflation posted its largest gain in 12 months in January, while consumer spending growth slowed after a robust fourth quarter.The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.4% in January, following a 0.1% gain in...

By Matthew Heller • March 1, 2018

U.S. Core Capital Goods Orders Drop 0.2%

In another indication that the U.S. economy lost some momentum at the start of the year, a closely-watched proxy for business spending plans fell for a second straight month in January.The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft dropped 0....

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 27, 2018

GE Keeping Faith in Baker Hughes Merger

The pressure on Baker Hughes shares appears to have lifted after General Electric said it would not shed its majority stake in the oilfield services company before the expiration of a two-year lockup period in 2019.Baker Hughes’ future had been clouded by GE chief executive John Flannery’s announ...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 23, 2018

Priceline Changes Name to Booking Holdings

Online travel pioneer Priceline Group has changed its name to Booking Holdings Inc. to reflect the evolution of its business since it acquired Booking.com, now its largest brand, in 2005.The group has expanded from namesake Priceline.com, the reservations website for hotels, flights, and rental c...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 22, 2018

Chinese Group Blocked in Bid for Chicago Stock Exchange

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has blocked the proposed sale of the Chicago Stock Exchange to a Chinese-led investor group, citing a lack of transparency about the source of funds for the deal and the ownership structure.The would-be buyers needed the SEC to approve a rule change tha...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 19, 2018

U.S. Consumer Prices Jump 0.5% in January

The long stretch of weak U.S. inflation may be coming to an end as consumer prices jumped 0.5% in January, adding to equity investors’ jitters.The rise in the consumer price index topped economists’ expectations of a 0.3% gain, and, excluding volatile food and energy prices, the CPI was up 0.3% a...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 14, 2018

U.S. Household Debt Reaches Record $13.15T

U.S. household debt rose in the final three months of 2017 to an all-time high, with growth particularly strong in the mortgage and credit card categories.The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said household debt rose by $193 billion to $13.15 trillion last quarter, completing the fifth straight y...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 14, 2018

U.S. Trade Gap Rises 12.1% in 2017

The U.S. trade deficit in December and for the full year both rose to the highest levels since 2008, underlining the challenges facing the Trump administration’s “America First” trade policies.For December, the trade gap increased 5.3% to $53.1 billion, topping economists’ estimates of $52.0 bill...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 7, 2018