GDP Posts Fastest Growth in Two Years in Q3

The U.S. economy grew faster than initially thought in the third quarter though economists are anticipating a slowdown in the final quarter of the year.Gross domestic product increased at a 3.5% annual rate instead of the previously reported 3.2% pace, the Commerce Department said in its third GD...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 23, 2016

U.S. Sues Barclays Over $30B in Toxic RMBS

Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged Barclays Bank with deceiving investors into acquiring more than $30 billion in mortgage securities that were backed by loans it knew were defective.The Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against the bank after talks about a possible settlement br...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 22, 2016

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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

ACA Is a Bane to Smaller Companies

For many small businesses, plans regarding health-care benefits are tinged with uncertainties entering Donald Trump’s presidency. What is certain is that, absent significant changes, the Affordable Care Act must be repealed.JoAnn Laing smaller companiesIn the run-up to the presidential election, ...

By JoAnn Laing • Dec. 15, 2016

Retail Sales Growth Slows to 0.1% Last Month

After two months of robust growth, U.S. retail sales cooled in November but retailers are still anticipating a solid holiday season.The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.1% to $465.5 billion last month after gaining a revised 0.6% in October and 1.% in September. Economists had be...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 15, 2016

Industrial Production Falls 0.4% in November

U.S. industrial production eased off more than expected last month, posting its largest decline since March, though the mining sector showed signs of stabilizing.The Federal Reserve said the measure of everything made by factories, mines and utilities declined 0.4% from a month earlier. Economist...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 14, 2016

Fed Raises Benchmark Interest Rate by 0.25%

The U.S. Federal Reserve, as expected, raised interest rates on Wednesday for the first time in a year and also indicated it would quicken the pace of further increases in the coming years.The Fed’s Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise the key federal funds rate by a quarter point, fr...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 14, 2016

Import Prices Drop 0.3% After Two Straight Gains

U.S. import prices recorded their biggest decline in nine months in November, primarily due to lower fuel costs, though non-fuel import prices dropped for a second consecutive month.The Labor Department said import prices fell 0.3% last month after two straight months of increases. The October ga...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 14, 2016

Consumer Sentiment Gets Post-Election Boost

Donald Trump’s election victory has given a boost to consumer sentiment about the U.S. economy, which in December reached its highest level in nearly two years.The University of Michigan’s latest survey of consumers showed a preliminary index of consumer sentiment reading of 98.0, up nearly 4.5% ...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 12, 2016

Trump Win Boosts U.S. Business Optimism

U.S. CFOs are much more optimistic about the U.S. economy following the election of Donald Trump, particularly with respect to regulatory and tax reform, according to the latest Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook. But many companies are still waiting to see the details before taking spec...

By CFO Editorial Staff • Dec. 7, 2016

Unit Labor Costs Surge 0.7% in Third Quarter

U.S. productivity in the third quarter remained unchanged from the government’s initial estimate but unit labor costs rose more than first thought.The Labor Department on Tuesday confirmed that productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, rose at a 3.1% annual rate for the July-Septembe...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 7, 2016

U.S. Employers Add 178,000 Jobs in November

U.S. employers maintained their steady pace of hiring in November while the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in more than nine years.The Labor Department said non-farm payrolls increased by 178,000 jobs last month, up from a downwardly revised 142,000 in October. The gain was in line...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 5, 2016

Consumer Spending Starts Q4 With Solid Gain

U.S. consumer spending posted another solid gain in October and inflation continued to show signs of firming, buoying hopes of strong economic growth in the fourth quarter.The Commerce Department said personal consumption rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% last month after a revised 0.7% jump in Sep...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 1, 2016

Thanksgiving Weekend Spending Drops 3.5%

Consumer spending over the Thanksgiving weekend took a hit from retailers’ early holiday promotions and bargain hunters taking advantage of discounts.In its annual survey of spending over the four-day weekend, the National Retail Federation found that a record 154 million people made purchases, u...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 29, 2016

Durable Goods Orders Surge 4.8% in October

U.S. durable goods orders rebounded strongly in October, surging past expectations amid increased demand for aircraft and other transportation machinery.The Commerce Department said orders for items meant to last three years increased $11 billion, or 4.8%, to $239.4 billion last month, following ...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 28, 2016

Consumer Prices Post Biggest Gain in 2 Years

Rising energy costs pushed consumer prices in October to the largest gain in two years but so-called core prices rose less than economists expected.The Labor Department said consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4% from September, the third straight monthly gain. Higher prices fo...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 18, 2016

Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Fall to 43-Year Low

The number of Americans making initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell sharply to a 43-year low last week as the labor market continued to strengthen.The Labor Department said Thursday that initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, dropped 19,000 in the week ended Nov. 12 to a seas...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 17, 2016

Retail Sales Rise Better-Than-Expected 0.8%

U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in October, almost equaling the previous month’s growth amid strong demand for cars and a surge in online shopping.The Commerce Department said retail sales increased 0.8% last month after gaining a revised 1.0% in September. Economists had been expecting...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 16, 2016

The Impact of the Growing National Debt

It is undeniable that if it’s left unchecked, the rising Federal debt will have a negative impact on corporate America. Just like the situation when you’re dealing with your household finances, you cannot outspend your income indefinitely without it having negative consequences on you personally,...

By Frank Fetsko • Nov. 15, 2016

Is Breaking Up Always Hard?

It’s tempting to analyze the global economy by scanning two separate snapshots: what it looked like before the Brexit vote and how it has performed in the months since the United Kingdom’s shocking decision to leave the European Union. But so far, it’s tough to detect many differences between the...

By Josh Hyatt • Nov. 14, 2016

A Time of Disruption

The U.S. presidential election and all of its attendant ugliness and divisiveness may soon be an unhappy memory, but political developments around the world continue to cloud the risk profiles of global companies.Whether they’re vulnerable to Brexit fallout, terrorism, or the latest rumblings fro...

By Ed Zwirn • Nov. 14, 2016

Companies See Growth Overseas, Despite Post-Election Concerns

The overwhelming majority of small to mid-size U.S. companies say their international sales revenues increased over the past year and are expecting significant growth in international markets, but worry a particularly contentious U.S. presidential election and its outcome could impact future plan...

By Sean Allocca • Nov. 7, 2016

Wage Gains Add to U.S. Labor Market Strength

The last jobs report before the presidential election provided more evidence that the labor market may be at its strongest point since the recession.According to the Labor Department, employers in October added 161,000 jobs, a little below economists’ expectations but still, as the Los Angeles Ti...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 7, 2016

U.S. Productivity Posts Best Quarter in 2 Years

U.S. worker productivity grew in the third quarter at the fastest rate in two years, but economists are not expecting a sustained surge in output.According to the Labor Department, productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, rose at a 3.1% annual rate for the July-September period, end...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 4, 2016

Consumer Spending Rises 0.5% in September

U.S. consumer spending beat expectations in September, showing the biggest increase in three months as Americans bought more new cars and other long-lasting goods.The Commerce Department said personal consumption rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% last month, topping economists’ estimates of a 0.4% ...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 1, 2016

Sustainability Disclosure: A Matter of Public Trust

Public confidence depends on transparency and trust. And lack of transparency provides the opportunity for obfuscation, deception, and corruption that erodes and ultimately destroys public trust.Alan Beller Unsubstantiated claims and false statements have become an all-too common feature of our p...

By Alan Beller and Jean Rogers • Oct. 31, 2016