U.S. Consumer Confidence Slumps in December

Consumer confidence in the United States fell for a second straight month in December, reflecting concerns over the pace of economic growth, the Conference Board said Thursday.According to the Conference Board’s latest monthly survey, its consumer confidence index slumped to 128.1 in December fro...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 27, 2018

Durable Goods Orders Rise 0.8% in November

Core capital goods orders fell for the second time in three months in November, indicating that the slowdown in business investment has continued into the fourth quarter.The Commerce Department reported Friday that orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, known as core capital good...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 21, 2018

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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

Fed Raises Benchmark Rate from 2.25% to 2.5%

The U.S. Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate for the fourth time this year but its continued confidence in the U.S. economy did little to calm skittish financial markets.With Wednesday’s hike, the federal funds rate will now sit in a range from 2.25% to 2.5%, bordering the lower en...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 20, 2018

U.S. Budget Gap Rises to $205B in November

The U.S. budget deficit last month was the largest ever recorded in November though the Trump administration’s tariffs boosted customs revenue.The Treasury Department reported that the U.S. ran a deficit of $205 billion last month, an increase of $66 billion, or 48%, from a year ago.The gain was ...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 13, 2018

U.S. Consumer Prices Flat Amid Cheaper Gas

U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in November amid a sharp drop in gasoline prices, lending support to expectations that the Federal Reserve will ease monetary tightening next year.November’s flat Consumer Price Index reading was the weakest in eight months and followed a 0.3% percent increase ...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 12, 2018

U.S. Job Growth Slows to 155,000 in November

U.S. employers added fewer jobs than expected in November but the labor market continues to expand at a fast enough rate to keep unemployment at the lowest level since 1969.The Labor Department reported Friday that nonfarm payrolls increased by 155,000 for the month, below economists’ expectation...

By Matthew Heller • Dec. 7, 2018

3 Things to Understand About US-China Dynamics

As globalization turns to superpower competition, how should companies prepare for a high-stakes economic rivalry between China and the United States?For the last 25 years or more, U.S. business leaders have formulated strategy, opened markets, and expanded their operations across the globe with ...

By Jonathan D. T. Ward and Atlas Organization • Dec. 5, 2018

Metric of the Month: Business Entity Revenue Per Employee

When organizations make hiring decisions, they’re counting on the people they bring onboard to be well worth the investment. Whether an employee is in a revenue-generating role or serving in an administrative or support capacity, the ratio of revenue generated to each employee can be a key indica...

By Perry D. Wiggins • Dec. 5, 2018

Most Consumers Are Leery of the Sharing Economy

Companies that are weighing whether to enter the “sharing economy” in some fashion may be challenged to win customers’ trust.In a new survey commissioned by Lloyd’s of London, 58% of U.S. and U.K. consumers said the risks of using sharing services outweighed the benefits. That’s despite the fact ...

By David McCann • Dec. 5, 2018

Economic Growth Estimate Stays Put at 3.5%

The latest estimate of U.S. gross domestic product confirmed economic growth slowed in the third quarter and economists expect the trend to continue into next year.The Commerce Department, in its second of three estimates, said GDP increased at a 3.5% annualized rate, unchanged from its first est...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 29, 2018

Five Key Components of Strategic Sourcing

Growth companies — entrepreneurial startups that have reached, say, $200 million in revenue — almost always have interesting and exciting success stories to tell about building their products and customer bases.For any such company, however, there comes a time when it needs focus on financial and...

By John Marchisin and Mark O'Hara and AArete • Nov. 29, 2018

Consumer Spending Jumps 0.6% in October

U.S. consumer spending surged in October to its biggest gain in seven months, previewing what could be a robust holiday shopping season amid moderate inflationary pressures.The Commerce Department reported Thursday that spending jumped 0.6% last month, topping economists’ expectations of a 0.4% i...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 29, 2018

Staffers Urge Google to Scrap China Project

Google employees are demanding the company cancel an effort to create a search engine for the Chinese market, saying it would set a “dangerous precedent.”According to media reports, Google’s Project Dragonfly has been working on a mobile version of its search engine that would adhere to the Chine...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 28, 2018

GM to Idle Plants, Lay Off 8,000 Salaried Staff

General Motors announced sweeping restructuring moves on Monday, including plant closures and white-collar employee layoffs, as it continues to revamp its operations to meet shifting consumer demand.The automaker said it would halt production next year at four plants in the U.S. and one in Canada...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 26, 2018

Nuance to Spin off Automotive Software Unit

Speech-recognition software provider Nuance Communications said Monday it will spin off its automotive division to focus on its “core growth opportunities.”The automotive business specializes in conversational AI software for smart automotive assistants. Its customers include BMW, Ford, GM, Hyund...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 20, 2018

Producer Price Index Rises 0.6% in October

U.S. wholesale prices jumped in October to their biggest gain in six years but overall inflation pressures remain moderate.The Labor Department reported Friday that the producer price index rose 0.6% in October, after a 0.2% increase in September. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a 0...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 9, 2018

Newell Continues ‘Accelerated Transformation’

Newell Brands has agreed to sell its Pure Fishing and Jostens businesses to private equity firms for a total of about $2.5 billion as the struggling consumer products company continues to execute its turnaround plan.Under its “accelerated transformation” strategy, Newells is seeking to divest non...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 7, 2018

U.S. Holiday Sales to Pass $1 Trillion Milestone

U.S. shoppers are expected to pass a milestone this holiday season by spending more than $1 trillion for the first time, with both physical and online sales increasing as low unemployment and income growth fuel consumer confidence.In its latest forecast report, market research firm eMarketer pred...

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 6, 2018

U.S. Adds 250,00 Jobs, Wages Rise 3.1%

The U.S. economy posted an unexpectedly strong gain in jobs in October while average wage growth topped 3% for the first time in nine years.The Labor Department reported Friday that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 250,000 last month, well above economists’ estimates of a gain of 200,000....

By Matthew Heller • Nov. 2, 2018

Brexit: No Cause for Celebration

You know the breathless media hype about Brexit has gone into overdrive when the dreaded countdown clock makes an appearance. There it is on the (London) Telegraph’s website, counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the United Kingdom leaves the European Union — as if March 29, 2...

By Kevin Butler and TMF Group • Oct. 18, 2018

Geopolitical Realities May Stifle Economic Growth

Last year, executives told A.T. Kearney that they were very concerned about geopolitical instability — and at the same time, that they were bullish on the macroeconomic outlook.The consulting firm disagreed with the sanguine assessment that geopolitical tensions would not affect the global econom...

By David McCann • Oct. 18, 2018

U.S. Budget Deficit Swells to $779B in FY 2018

The U.S. budget deficit grew to $779 billion in fiscal 2018 — the highest level since the height of the Great Recession — as President Donald Trump’s tax cuts ate into corporate tax revenues.The Treasury Department reported on Monday that the budget shortfall increased by $113 billion, or nearly ...

By Matthew Heller • Oct. 16, 2018

IMF Chief Warns of Economic Nationalism Risks

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has issued a warning against economic nationalism, saying countries need to “sail together” to avoid a slowdown in growth.The IMF has projected 3.9% global growth for 2018 and 2019. But in a speech in Washington on Monday, Lagarde said “there ar...

By Matthew Heller • Oct. 2, 2018

Consumer Spending Growth Slows to 0.3%

The pace of growth in U.S. consumer spending slowed in August but economists had expected a slowdown after five straight strong gains.The Commerce Department reported Friday that spending rose 0.3% last month, in line with economists’ expectations and the smallest increase since February.The repo...

By Matthew Heller • Sept. 28, 2018

Fed Hikes Rates for Third Time This Year

The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the third time this year as it continues to chart a gradual course of rate hikes amid projections of at least three more years of economic growth.The rate increase announced Wednesday lifted the benchmark overnight lending rate by a quarter of a ...

By Matthew Heller • Sept. 27, 2018