Indications

With 163 million employed workers, employment in the Euro Area has reached record-high levels in Q2 2022. Although hiring expectations are on a downward trend since March across all industries, the labor market is currently incredibly tight. Marion Devine, Associate Director for Insights on Human Capital, and Bettina Schaller, Senior Vice President Public Affairs for Adecco, and President of the World Employment Confederation discuss with Conference Board Ilaria Maselli how companies can improve the mental and financial wellbeing of workers, how demographic change is transforming the labor force, and how Gen-Z will change the way we work.

Despite having more than doubled since 2010, renewable energy makes up less than 20 percent in the US' electricity mix.  In this podcast episode, chief economist Dana Peterson discusses with senior economists Alex Heil and Erin McLaughlin the trends in the energy sector and how those affect businesses and households. They cover the uneven playing field in various states in the US, the costs of renewables and battery technologies, potential obstacles to a greater adoption of renewables, and what role federal and local policies play. You can find our report, Renewable Sources, here: https://www.conference-board.org/topics/tags.cfm?parent=energy-global-growth&child=State-of-Renewable-Energy-2022

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased for the third consecutive month in July, following a larger decline in June. The Index now stands at 95.7 (1985=100), down 2.7 points from 98.4 in June. Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board as she talks with Chief Economist Dana Peterson about how inflation and additional Fed rate hikes are likely to continue posing strong headwinds for consumer spending and economic growth over the next six months.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® fell again in June Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson as they discuss why the risk of recession is rising, the one thing sparking confidence in consumers about the economy, and why the inflation expectation measure spiked to an all-time high.

A new set of lockdowns and the recent bond with Russia are reshaping the way businesses view China. In this podcast Ilaria Maselli asks David Hoffman – Senior VP Asia – to share views on the outlook for the economic recovery in China after the end of the lockdowns, how long China will stick to its zero-COVID policy, and the nature of the Sino-Russian relation. They also discuss what the war in Ukraine tells us about Taiwan, and how multinational companies view the future of doing business in China in the new geopolitical environment. See here the report Taiwan ≠ Ukraine: A Pragmatic Assessment.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased slightly in May, following a small increase in April (after an upward revision). Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board as she talks with Chief Economist Dana Peterson about how inflation, rising interest rates and perceived softening in the labor market all played a part in this month's survey.

How does the use of financial services vary across Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White (Non-Hispanic) consumers in the US, and how can companies address existing services gaps? And how do multicultural consumers use restaurants, travel, personal services, education, and other services to express their ethnic origins, and what this all means for companies as US demographics are changing?    Listen to this conversation by Ivan Pollard, Leader of the Marketing & Communications Center, with Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, and Denise Dahlhoff, Senior Researcher, about The Conference Board's latest findings from its multicultural research series in collaboration with General Mills.

Semiconductors are found in just about everything we use – from cars to cell phones to refrigerators. But there seems to not be enough of them, and in the right places. Are we experiencing a computer chip crisis or is this sentiment overblown? How are semiconductors fueling inflation and affecting supply chains? What are businesses doing to overcome the challenges? What are opportunities for both users and producers of such a critical input? Listen, learn, and act!

In this podcast, Claudio Murri, Council Director for the Public Affairs Executives Council, discusses with two seasoned practitioners from the public affairs/government relations Brussels-based community how the conflict in Ukraine has impacted their profession. The current war has put even more pressure on the ethical and value-based aspects of the role and is changing the rules of engagement with policymakers. At a time when business leaders are increasingly being pushed to base their investment decisions on geopolitical – as well as pure commercial – considerations, Murri, explores how the role of public affairs professionals as strategic advisors, both inside and outside companies and organizations, is possibly becoming more relevant.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased slightly in April, after an increase in March. Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson as they discuss how concerns about inflation retreated from an all-time high, but remain elevated, and how inflation and the war in Ukraine may further curb consumer spending this year.  

A new podcast by The Conference Board unpacks the war in Ukraine's implications for global energy markets and prices. In the conversation, Robin Mills, CEO at Qamar Energy, and Hiba Itani, Economist at The Conference Board, discuss the risks of embargos on Russian oil, along with which economies might be able to ramp up supplies and when. They also cover what governments can do to help support businesses, consumers, and vulnerable economies from the repercussions of surging oil prices.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® increased in March 2022. While the highest recorded figure of consumers say jobs are plentiful, their expectations declined. Join this podcast with Conference Board Chief Economist Dana Peterson and Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators as they discuss key drivers of these expectations, how consumers can be more optimistic going forward, and what makes The Conference Board survey different from others that are showing a weakening in consumer confidence.  

Finance is playing a central role in the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine. From sanctions to crypto assets, we discuss how governments are using access to the global financial system to pressure an end to the violence and human suffering. Moreover, how Russia is finding alternatives to traditional finance. We also explore how businesses can protect themselves from financial exposure amid the ongoing crisis. By listening to this podcast you will: Understand how governments are using finance to address the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Learn about financial sanctions and how are they affecting markets and business operations. Discover the importance of alternatives to SWIFT and traditional credit, plus crypto assets amid the war. Garner insights on financial risks to businesses affected by the crisis and how to respond.

Why does the West continue to misunderstand Russia's drive? What is China's role, and what does their unlimited friendship really mean? What do organizations need to be doing in terms of business continuity plans, in the event of a Russian cyber operation attack? In this podcast Sara Murray, Managing Director, International of The Conference Board is joined in by guest, Keir Giles to explore these issues. Giles is a British writer and expert on security issues affecting Russia, and on the armed forces of the Russian Federation. He is a senior consulting fellow of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House and a Research Director with the Conflict Studies Research Centre. 

“We always made it seem like magic. Things just showed up – you had what you need” says Rear Admiral John Polowczyk in this episode of our Indicatiions podcast. In a compelling discussion with Chief Economist Dana Peterson, the Rear Admiral, who has a long history of supply chain management at the top levels of military and government, discusses how and why the COVID pandemic disrupted the delivery of goods. This episode was recorded before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but still contains pertinent information for companies as they struggle with even further shocks to the global supply chain. In this second part of our podcast series, produced in partnership with EY, you can listen to the conversation and learn: -Why companies' approach to a lean supply chain and “just in time” inventory was a critical factor in the disruption of the system -What changes will need to be made to create more resilient supply chains, and why will it be so difficult to fix? -What is the role of the Federal Government in this? -Will outer space factor into the transportation of goods?

In this podcast British journalist and author Christina Lamb joins Sara Murray, Managing Director International to discuss what's happening on the ground at the Polish-Ukraine border, how the war is unfolding and its consequences to families, especially women and children. Together they look at what's currently not being told, and steps companies can take to ensure employees and their families are safe, as well as views on how this war will end.  Lamb also discusses her award-winning book ‘Our Bodies, Their Battlefield: What War Does to Women'.

Journalists play a crucial role in exposing the tragedy of war. In a new podcast, Jerome Starkey, a broadcaster, author, and Defense Editor at The Sun, joins Sara Murray, Managing Director, International, from the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Starkey provides a first-hand description of what's happening on the ground in Ukraine, from the challenges civilians are observing, their spirit/morale, whether humanitarian aid is getting though, Russia's ultimate game plan, and what it takes to be a combat journalist. 

How will the war in Ukraine impact rising commodity prices and key material shortages? Will Ukraine be able to provide its own people with basic necessities such as food, shelter and heat without Western intervention? How can the world help? In this podcast Dmytro Los, Head of the Board of the Ukrainian Business and Trade Association and Sara Murray, Managing Director, International for The Conference Board, discuss both the dire situation facing the Ukrainian people – and the threat to global commerce.

What is the difference between battlefield and strategic nuclear weapons? Are we underestimating the risk of chemical weapon attacks in Ukraine? Can the war spill outside the Ukraine border? In this podcast Hamish de Bretton Gordon, one of the world's leading experts on nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, and Sara Murray, Managing Director, International for The Conference Board, discuss Russia's military doctrine, China's role in this conflict as well as what kind of contingency plans companies should put in place given the situation to help their staff in Ukraine.

How much do we expect inflation to increase in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine? How are we revising our estimates for growth? How high can oil and gas prices go? In this podcast Ilaria Maselli, Klaas de Vries and Hiba Itani from The Conference Board discuss the economic implications of the war in Ukraine for the European economic outlook.

What are companies doing to help their employees get out of Ukraine? What are their responses in way of transportation, accommodation, and financial support? In this podcast Anne Stevens, Council Director at The Conference Board for our Global CHRO, HR Executives, and Global Business Women Leaders Councils shares what CHROs from leading multinational organizations are doing to take care of employees affected by this crisis. The conversation is moderated by Sara Murray, Managing Director International at The Conference Board.

In part II of this podcast series, Samantha De Bendern, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House joins Sara Murry, Managing Director, International at The Conference Board to explore issues such as Russia's potential retaliation on imposed sanctions and what this means for supply chains. The discussion also tackles the issues of cybersecurity and preparedness, as well as companies' response to employees affected by the situation. There are opportunities to be taken especially with regards to building resilience.

What's next with regards to the relationship between NATO and Russia? What is the impact of the China-Russia axis on European and US business leaders? What role do oil and gas play in this situation? In Part I of this special episode of Indications we are joined by Samantha De Bendern, one of Europe's leading experts on the current Russian-Ukraine crisis. Together with Sara Murray, Managing Director, International of The Conference Board they discuss these, and other related questions, bringing insights on the evolving situation.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® dipped in February following a decline in January. President & CEO, Steve Odland and Senior Director of Economic Indicators, Lynn Franco, discuss the decline and consumer's easing expectations regarding the economy and job growth. They also reveal what has been the pillar of support for consumer confidence.

“The C-Suite really needs to put supply chain resiliency on their agenda. It can't be #45, it's got to be near the top”, says Jay Welsh, Partner at EY and a specialist in global supply chains. As deliveries become increasingly difficult at the borders, Welsh talks with Chief Economist Dana Peterson. In this informative discussion, they dissect the disruption of deliveries: what caused it, what it will take to fix it and how the C-Suite needs to react. In the first part of this podcast series, produced in partnership with EY, you'll grasp new approaches to dealing with supply chain issues. In this conversation you will learn: What emerging technologies are helping companies with supply chain problems? What can companies do to diversify their supply chains? How can businesses balance the needs of customers while protecting profit margins? How can companies use analytics for better forecasting?

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined in January after three months of improvement. Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss the key drivers of the decline as well as Omicron's effect on consumers' lives, and important factors to keep consumers optimistic going forward.

Ataman Ozyildirim speaks with Swapna Nair, Senior Economist from the Conference board of Canada and Erik Lundh, Principal Economist from The Conference Board of New York to discuss 5 new trends in global supply chains and how global and Canadian companies are viewing these trends, based on a recent survey on the future of global value chains.

The results of our C-Suite Outlook 2022 have just been released. Chief Economist, Dana Peterson and Senior Director of Economics, Ataman Ozyildirim, discuss some of the more surprising findings from the report. Is climate change a major concern for CEO's? How high did macro-economic factors rank? What else is on CEO's minds that wasn't reflected in the survey? Listen now to part 2 of our C-Suite Outlook 2022 series. For more insights, click below: https://www.conference-board.org/publications/c-suite-outlook-2022

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index improved in December 2021, following an upward revision in November. Please join and listen to this podcast as Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss key drivers of this increase and what consumers are saying about the new Omicron variant.  

Brexit reignited the Scottish nationalist fire. In this podcast, Ilaria Maselli and Elizabeth Crofoot discuss scenarios for Scottish independence from the UK: what steps would be necessary and what it would mean for businesses. They explore 3 scenarios: 1) independence and EU membership, 2) the Divided United Kingdom with further devolution of powers to Edinburgh, and 3) Status quo skirmish.    You can also read our full report at: tcb.org/topics/brexit/scotlands-post-brexit-future 

Join labor market experts from The Conference Board as they break down the monthly US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report. They provide insights on the monthly employment and unemployment numbers and identify key trends in the US job market that business leaders should know about. 

While communication is not the leading harbinger of success, many would-be innovators underuse it, hampering their progress. Our recent series of interviews with successful innovators reveals that strategic, skillful, and disciplined communication is front and center for them. During this podcast, we'll share communication techniques and skills that help leaders overcome common innovation challenges and exploit opportunities. The research is based on our interviews with 17 leaders—innovation executives, communications leaders, CEOs, and other C-suite executives—from 10 different companies based in the United States and Europe.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® fell in November. The delta variant took the backseat while rising prices took the lead in consumer's concerns.  Please join and listen to this podcast as Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss other key drivers of this decline and what is expected going forward.

In this podcast Frank Heemskerk (European Round Table for Industry), and Ilaria Maselli and Klaas de Vries (The conference Board) discuss some of the key insights from the report “European Business Leaders Adjust Expectations Slightly Downward”. We start with the latest reading of the Measure of CEO Confidence™, and then discuss growth expectations for 2022 and risks that can affect the European economy in the short-term. A key message is that the current struggles of the economy come from the supply side: supply chains under stress, inadequate equipment and emerging labour shortages. The report can be found at this link: https://www.conference-board.org/topics/CEO-Confidence/ceo-confidence-november-2021-report

Join labor market experts from The Conference Board as they break down the monthly US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report. They provide insights on the monthly employment and unemployment numbers and identify key trends in the US job market that business leaders should know about.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined again in September, following decreases in both July and August. The Index now stands at 109.3 (1985=100), down from 115.2 in August. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—fell to 143.4 from 148.9 last month. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—fell to 86.6 from 92.8.  Listen to this podcast as Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss how the Delta variant appears to be impacting consumers – making them more cautious with their spending going forward.

Before the pandemic—and after a long period of global economic expansion—global labor markets were relatively tight. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, labor markets changed abruptly. GDP and the number of jobs (or hours worked) declined dramatically across the globe. A year later, the economic and labor market outlook is much more optimistic, especially in mature economies. Some economies are already close to being fully reopened. But as economies start to reopen, labor shortages may reappear sooner than employers might expect. In this podcast, we will discuss the latest global labor market developments and what can be expected in the second half of 2021, 2022, and beyond.

Join labor market experts from The Conference Board as they break down the monthly US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report. They provide insights on the monthly employment and unemployment numbers and identify key trends in the US job market that business leaders should know about.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® was relatively unchanged in July, following gains in each of the prior five months. The Index now stands at 129.1 (1985=100), up from 128.9 in June. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose from 159.6 to 160.3. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—was virtually unchanged at 108.4, compared to 108.5 last month.  Please join and listen to this podcast as Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss consumers' optimism for the short term and how that will impact the US economy as we head into autumn of 2022.

Join labor market experts from The Conference Board as they break down the monthly US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report. They provide insights on the monthly employment and unemployment numbers and identify key trends in the US job market that business leaders should know about.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® improved further in June, following gains in each of the previous four months. The Index now stands at 127.3 (1985=100), up from 120.0 (an upward revision) in May. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose from 148.7 to 157.7. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—improved to 107.0, up from 100.9 last month. Join and listen to this podcast as Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson discuss consumers' new optimism for the short-term – and how that will impact the economy going forward.

Join labor market experts from The Conference Board as they break down the monthly US Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report. They provide insights on the monthly employment and unemployment numbers and identify key trends in the US job market that business leaders should know about.

In this podcast Frank Heemskerk (ERT), and Ilaria Maselli and Klaas de Vries (The Conference Board) discuss some of the insights from the report “Surging Confidence Among European Business Leaders Despite Strains on Supply Chains”. We start with the latest reading of the Measure of CEO Confidence™, and then discuss bottlenecks in sight, like strains on supply chains, shortages and trade tensions. We also look at the forecast for 2021 and 2022 and talk about why vaccination remains the key risk (or upside!) for the next six months. Click here to check out ERT's newly released podcast series: https://ert.eu/documents/ert-launches-podcast-series-21st-century-industrialists/

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® held steady in May, following a gain in April. The Index now stands at 117.2 (1985=100), down marginally from 117.5 in April. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased from 131.9 to 144.3. However, the Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—fell to 99.1 in May, down from 107.9 last month.  Join Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators and Chief Economist Dana Peterson as they discuss consumers’ waning optimism for the short-term.

Why did global consumer confidence reach record levels in Q1 2021? What does this mean for global growth, and what are the regional developments? More specifically, what have been trends in the US regarding health and wellness, spending on food, and investments? What can we expect in the near future? Join The Conference Board’s Chief Economist Dana Peterson and Senior Researcher Denise Dahlhoff as they discuss these and related questions. Learn how the lightening in moods among consumers globally bodes well for spending throughout the remainder of the year as economies continue to emerge from the pandemic-induced economic downturn and work towards arresting the spread of the coronavirus. As consumption is a significant contributor to growth among many mature economies, the positive consumer attitudes and behaviors at the start of the year support The Conference Board’s upwardly revised expectation of 5.2 percent real GDP growth for the global economy in 2021.