Podcasts about The Conference Board

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped in June. That's after a brief reprive in May from a monthslong downward slide. Uncertainty surrounding the job market, tariffs, that GOP tax bill, trouble in the Middle East — what's not to be glum about? In this episode, we explain what could shift the mood. Plus: Soon-to-be college grads in China prepare for an unwelcoming job market, oil shipping prices grow even as oil prices fall, and Congress considers a new way to regulate crypto.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Recorded live at the Florida Annual Conference 2025, Jessica interviews the Conference Co-Lay Leaders Warren Pattison and Derrick Scott III as they share the Laity Address and Conference Board of Laity report. Warren and Derrick share what Florida lay leaders have been up to in the last year, what God is stirring in their hearts and new opportunities for laity in the FLUMC. The Laity Space Podcast is presented by Florida Conference Board of Laity and produced by Wesley's Revival. For more information, go to laityspace.org.

If you work in sustainability or ESG, you're already grappling with a rapidly evolving regulatory and policy landscape, all while proving the ROI of your sustainability strategy. What other crucial issues should sustainability executives prioritize for the remainder of 2025?     Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, principal researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, to find out how AI is affecting sustainability work, the importance of supply chain sustainability and water stewardship, and why policy changes shouldn't affect your underlying goals.     At the midway point of 2025, The Conference Board is profiling the top 10 priorities for crucial job functions and business units. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, we look at the top priorities for sustainability executives.      (00:49) Priority Number 10: AI in Sustainability (02:27) Priority Number 9: Communicating and Storytelling (05:09) Priority Number 8: Integrating Sustainability into Business Operations (07:52) Priority Number 7: Biodiversity and Natural Capital (10:47) Priority Number 6: Water Stewardship and Scarcity (13:58) Priority Number Five: Supply Chain Transparency and Sustainability (16:47) Priority Number 4: Climate Strategy (18:44) Priority Number 3: Demonstrating ROI in Sustainability (20:25) Priority Number 2: Sustainability Reporting Regulations (22:28) 20:39 Priority Number 1: Navigating ESG Policy Changes   For more from The Conference Board:  Top 10 Sustainability Priorities for 2025 New Approaches to Telling Your Sustainability Story  Corporate Climate Disclosures and Practices: Risk, Emissions, and Targets  The EPA's Deregulatory Agenda: Implications for Corporate Sustainability 

Hear Vassy's full interview with David Paterson, Ontario's representative in Washington. On today's show: Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist with the Conference Board of Canada, breaks down the Bank of Canada's latest interest rate decision. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch discusses vaccine guidelines. The Daily Debrief Panel with Laura D'Angelo, Jeff Rutledge, and Abigail Bimman. Hear yesterday's full interview with Canada's Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.

Our Thematics and U.S. Economics analysts Michelle Weaver and Arunima Sinha discuss how American consumers are planning to spend as they consider tariffs, inflation and potential new tax policies. Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Michelle Weaver: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Michelle Weaver, U.S. Thematic and Equity strategist.Arunima Sinha: And I'm Arunima Sinha from the Global and U.S. Economics Teams.Michelle Weaver: Today – an encouraging update on the U.S. consumer.It's Tuesday, June 3rd at 10am in New York.Arunima, the last couple of months have been challenging not only for global markets, but also for everyday people and for individual households; and we heard pretty mixed information on the consumer throughout earning season. Quite a few different companies highlighted consumers being more choiceful, being more value oriented. All this to say is we're getting a little bit of a mixed message.In your opinion, how healthy is the U.S. consumer right now?Arunima Sinha: So, Michelle, I'm glad we're starting with the sort of up upbeat part of the consumer. The macro data on the consumer has been holding up pretty well so far. In the first quarter of [20]25, consumer spending has actually been running at a similar pace as the first quarter of [20]24. Nominal consumption spending grew 5.5 percent on a year-on-year basis. Goods were up almost 4 percent. Services were up more than 6 percent.So, all of that was good. What our takeaway was that we had a lot of strength in good spending, and that did probably reflect some of the pull forward on the back of tariff news. But that pace of growth suggests that there is an aggregate consumer. They have healthy balance sheets, and they're willing to spend.And then what's driving that consumption growth from our point of view. We think that labor market compensation has been running at a pretty steady pace so far. So more than 5.5 percent quarterly analyzed. PCE inflation has been running at just over 3 percent. And so even though equity markets did see some greater volatility, they didn't seem to impact the consumer at least in the first quarter of data. And so, we've had that consumer in a pretty good shape.But with all of this in the background, we know, tariffs have been in the news, and tariff fears have weighed heavily on consumer sentiment. But then tariff headlines have also become more positive lately, and consumers might be feeling more optimistic. What's your data showing?Michelle Weaver: So that really depends on what data you're looking at. We saw a pretty big rebound in consumer sentiment if you look at the Conference Board survey. But then we saw flat sentiment, when you look at the University of Michigan survey. These two surveys have some different questions in them, different subcomponents.But my favorite way to track consumer sentiment is our own proprietary consumer survey, which did show a pretty big pickup in sentiment towards the economy last month. And we saw sentiment rebound significantly for both conservatives and liberals.So, this wasn't just a matter of one political party, you know, having a change of opinion. Both sides did see an improvement in sentiment. Although consumer sentiment for conservatives improved off a much higher base. The percent of people reporting being very concerned about tariffs also fell this month. We saw that move from 43 percent to 38 percent after the reduction in tariffs on China. So, people are, you know, concerned a little bit less there. And that's been a really big thing people are watching.Arunima Sinha: Feeling better about the news is great. Are they actually planning to spend more?Michelle Weaver: So encouragingly we did also see a big rebound in consumers short term spending outlooks in the survey. 33 percent of consumers expect to spend more next month and 17 percent expect to spend less.So that gives us a net of positive 16 percent. This is in line with the five-year average level we saw there, and up really substantially from last month's reading of 5 percent. So, 5 percent to 16 percent. That's a pretty big improvement.We also saw spending plans rise across all income groups. though we did see the biggest pickup for higher income consumers and that figure moved from 12 percent to 31 percent. Additionally, we saw longer term spending plans – so what people are planning to spend over the next six months – also improve across all the categories we look at.Arunima Sinha: And were there any specific changes about how the consumers were responding to the tariff headlines?Michelle Weaver: Yeah, so people reported pulling forward some purchases, due to fear of tariff driven price increases. So, people were planning for this, similarly to what we saw with companies. They were doing a little bit of stockpiling. Consumers were doing this as well. So, our survey showed that over half of people said they accelerated some purchases over the past month to try and get ahead of potential tariff related price increases.And this did skew higher among upper income consumers. The categories that people cited at the top of the list for pull forward are non-perishable groceries, household items. So, both of those things you need in your day-to-day life. And then clothing and apparel as well, which I thought was interesting. But that's been one thing that's been in the news a lot that's heavily manufactured overseas.So, people were thinking about that. And this does align overall with our March survey data, where we asked what categories people were most concerned about seeing price increases. So, their behavior did line up with what they were concerned about in March.Arunima, your turn on tariffs now. The reason tariffs have been on consumer's minds is because of what they might mean for price levels and inflation. Throughout earning season, we heard a lot of companies talking about raising prices to offset the cost of tariffs. What has this looked like from an economist's perspective? Has this actually started to show up in the inflation data yet?Arunima Sinha: So not quite yet, and that's something that, as you might expect, we're tracking very, very closely. So, one of the things that our team did was to think about which types of goods or services were going to be impacted by inflation. And so, we think that that first order effects are going to be on goods. And we think that the effects could start to show up in the May data, but we really see that sequential pace of inflation starting to step up starting June. And then in our third quarter inflation estimate, we see that number peaking for the year. So, in the third quarter, we think that core PCE inflation number is going to be about 4.5 percent Q1-Q analyzed.Michelle Weaver: And then aside from tariffs and inflation, how are people going to be affected by a fiscal policy, specifically the tax bill that just passed the house?Arunima Sinha: So, the house version of the bill has government spending reductions that can be quite regressive for different cohorts of the consumer. So, we have, reductions around the Medicaid program, cuts to the SNAP program as well as possible elimination of the income driven loans repayment plans. So, all of these would have a pretty adverse impact on the lower income and the middle-income consumers.This could be – but will likely not be fully offset by the removal of taxes, on tips and overtime. And then on the other side, the higher income consumers could benefit from some of that increase in SALT caps. But overall, the jury is still out on how the aggregate consumer will be affected.Michelle Weaver: So, taking this all into account, the effects of fiscal policy, of tariff policy, of labor market income – what's your overall outlook on U.S. consumption for the rest of the year?Arunima Sinha: So, we recently published our mid-year outlook for U.S. economics and our forecast for consumption spending over 2025 and [20]26 does see the consumer slowing. And this is really due to three factors. The first is on the back of those greater tariffs and the uncertainty around them and the fact that we have slowing net immigration, we're going to be expecting a slowdown in the labor market. As the pace of hiring slows, you have a slower growth in labor market income. And that really is the main driver of aggregate consumption spending. And then as we talked about, we are expecting that pass through of higher tariffs into inflation, and that's going to impact real spending. And then finally the uncertainty around tariffs, the volatilities and equity markets could weigh on consumer spending; and may actually push the upper income cohorts, the big drivers of consumption spending in the economy, to have higher precautionary savings.And so, with all of that, we see our nominal consumption spending growth slowing down to about 3.9 percent by the end of this year.Michelle Weaver: Well a little unfortunate to wrap up on a more negative note, but we are seeing, you know, mixed messages – and some more positive data in the near term, at least. Arunima, thank you for taking the time to talk.Arunima Sinha: Thanks so much for having me, Michelle.Michelle Weaver: And thank you for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen to the show and share the podcast with a friend or colleague today.

“Our core business is harvesting and collecting the by-product from coal combustion plants historically, called fly ash. We introduce it into supplementary cementitious materials to create a Portland cement replacement. We are pushing for 20% and even 30% [replacement of traditional cement] and hopefully reaching 100% one day with our technologies that are still in development.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast We need infrastructure that's safe, strong, durable and climate resilient. To build our cities, roads, bridges and more, 30 billion tonnes of concrete is poured around the world every year. If concrete and cement were a country, it'd be the third largest emitting country behind the US and China! An innovative company tackling this challenge is Eco Material Technologies. Listen to Marcy Jenks, Director of Rail Logistics at Eco Material Technologies, who speaks to Joan about how green cement alternatives are making their way into major construction projects from Texas to Pennsylvania. You'll hear about: How Eco Material Technologies is disrupting traditional cement with its sustainable alternative. Ways that green cement reduces long-term costs. Eco Material Technologies' rail-focused logistics strategy that lowers carbon emissions. Expanding roles for women in the male-dominated construction and logistics industries. Plus, career advice for women in the construction and logistics industries.  “We need to continue to advocate for ourselves as women and for the women adjacent to us. There is a lot of opportunity for us to have our voices be heard, get a seat at the table, and our voices are critical. The unique insights that we bring, our perspectives and our kind of innate leadership and problem solving skills are key to this environmental and sustainability conversation in [the construction] industry and business.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast You'll also like: Joan Michelson's Forbes article on 5 Key Ways Climate Change And Economic Forces Are Redesigning Buildings. Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, on good leadership traits in times of change. Lauren Sorkin, Co-founder and Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network, on how cities can withstand the shocks of climate change. Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer, on why buildings are key to helping businesses address their carbon emissions. Anna Siefken, formerly from the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, on plans to reduce the carbon footprint of federal buildings across the country. Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist at The Conference Board explains why buildings are key to mitigating climate change.  Read more of Joan's Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders' Circle at an exclusive special rate.  Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio

Episode 546 - Dr. James R Gregory - Study Your Reader, Branding for Authors, action, adventure, and romanceWith 40 years of experience in advertising and branding, Jim is a leading expert on corporate brand management and is credited with developing strategies for measuring the power of brands and their impact on a corporation's financial performance. Most notable of the tools that Jim has developed is the CoreBrand Index (CBI), a quantitative research vehicle that continuously tracks the reputation and financial performance of over 800 publicly traded companies across 50 industries. Tenet Partners uses the CBI to help clients recognize how their brands compare with industry peers and how communications can impact corporate reputation and financial performance, which includes stock price and revenue growth.Dr. Gregory is a frequent speaker on the financial benefits of communications and brand management. Recent speaking engagements include The Conference Board, the Association of National Advertisers, and the National Investor Relations Institute.One of the key secrets to my success was my passion for writing. Over the next four decades, I wrote a series of business books that helped build not only our business brand but also my personal reputation. Some of the titles I crafted include “Marketing Corporate Image,” “Leveraging the Corporate Brand,” “Branding Across Borders,” “The Best of Branding,” and “Powerhouse, the Secrets of Corporate Branding.”After successfully exiting the business, I embarked on a new journey – writing fiction. I quickly discovered that my favorite genre was short reads in the form of novellas. Drawing upon my extensive business experiences, personal life, and current events, I craft stories that can be enjoyed in just one sitting, whether it's an evening at home or a cross-country flight.https://jamesrgregory-books.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

In Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers remarks at the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Following his address, the prime minister speaks with FCM President Rebecca Bligh.  At a news conference in Ottawa, the Assembly of First Nations releases its second report on the benefits of infrastructure spending. Developed with the Conference Board of Canada, the report outlines the long-term socioeconomic impacts generated by closing the First Nations infrastructure gap.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

STORIES MENTIONED:1. Sam's Club Launches Online Pizza Delivery

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for May was released on Tuesday; Kevin has the details, discusses the information and offers his insights and perspective. The U.S. Commerce Department released the April Durable Goods Orders report: Kevin sorts through the data, explains the information and puts it into perspective. Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company and the Freight Transportation Research Associates Transportation Intelligence reported their respective April Class 8 Truck Orders numbers; Kevin discusses the results. Wards Intelligence reported April Class 8 Truck Sales; Kevin has the details. Oil and gas prices react to strong gasoline demand over the Memorial Day holiday, Russia's increased missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, the German Chancellor's an escalation, encouraging Ukrainian attacks deep into Russia and OPEC+'s anticipated announcement of crude oil output hike later this week.

Stephanie Guichard joins Diane King Hall to discuss the latest consumer confidence data and what it means for the overall health of U.S. demand. She cites The Conference Board survey and the timing it was conducted, pointing to some recovery from last month's dip. However, she does highlight a downward trend and says consumers are 'less anxious' after the 90-day pause on China tariffs.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

The US President, Donald Trump's administration, has ordered its embassies abroad to pause new applications for student and exchange visitor visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. We hear from former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan – who was in office during Obama's presidency. Japanese-owned steelmaker Nippon Steel is expected to close its “partnership” with U.S. Steel at $55 per share, as the US media have reported. On Friday, last week, President Donald Trump said that he has cleared the deal. And Rahul Tandon hears how one woman's quest to buy only US-made goods has been surprisingly difficult. Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board in the US, and Simon Littlewood, President of ACG Global or a business consultant based in Singapore.

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for May was released on Tuesday; Kevin has the details, discusses the information and offers his insights and perspective. The U.S. Commerce Department released the April Durable Goods Orders report: Kevin sorts through the data, explains the information and puts it into perspective. Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company and the Freight Transportation Research Associates Transportation Intelligence reported their respective April Class 8 Truck Orders numbers; Kevin discusses the results. Wards Intelligence reported April Class 8 Truck Sales; Kevin has the details. Oil and gas prices react to strong gasoline demand over the Memorial Day holiday, Russia's increased missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, the German Chancellor's an escalation, encouraging Ukrainian attacks deep into Russia and OPEC+'s anticipated announcement of crude oil output hike later this week.

The Conference Board's latest consumer confidence index notched its highest monthly increase in four years. To be clear, it was coming off a five-year low in April, but the jump still represents cooling trade war anxieties among American consumers. Also in this episode: The U.S. isn't the only country experiencing rising bond yields, durable goods orders fell in April and first-time home owners in Houston are saddled with climate-related cost burdens.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. 

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger Picture The EU countries are realizing that they were headed down the the wrong path in regards to green energy, now they are reversing course. EU has now bent a knee to Trump and they will negotiate a trade deal. Countries around the world are making trade deals. Consumer sentiment is now rising and the window is now closing for the [DS]/[CB]. The [DS] is panicking because everyday that passes they lose more and more control. They have lost the funding, security clearances, the intelligence orgs and now the FBI has begun their investigation into the pipe bomber, SC leak and cocaine in the WH. Think logically, elections, judges and who was managing the WH. Pain. Majority of Americans say the US is on the right track.   Economy Energy Costs Now ‘Main Issue' For US Ally That Barred Nuclear Power Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said high energy costs are the most critical economic issue for her country  Italy has embraced green energy and enacted a ban on nuclear power that has lasted nearly 40 years, though the nation's Council of Ministers and Meloni have recently moved to reintroduce the technology, joining other European countries like Belgium, Denmark and Germany that are also reconsidering their turns away from nuclear power. Emanuele Orsini — the head of Italy's largest business lobby — called for Meloni to cut energy costs and pave the way for a return to nuclear energy at the annual assembly for Confindustria, where Meloni again acknowledged her country's energy problems, Reuters reported. “Our companies continue to suffer from an energy (price) surcharge of more than 35% over the European average, even reaching peaks of 80% when compared to the largest European countries,” Orsini said at the assembly, according to Reuters. Meloni has expressed support for expanding nuclear energy in Italy, as have other officials, including the Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. Source: dailycaller.com   Trade with the United States of America. They will BOTH be very happy, and successful, if they do!!! (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");  US Consumers Now More Optimistic, Ending 5 Straight Months Of Decline In Confidence Index U.S. consumer confidence bounced back in May ending five straight months of decline and beating economists' expectations. The Consumer Confidence Index increased by 12.3 points in May to 98.0, up from 85.7 in April, according to a report released Tuesday by The Conference Board. This notably marked the first increase in consumer confidence in five months. The Conference Board's Present Situation Index, which is based on consumers' outlook on current business and job market conditions, increased 4.8 points in May to 135.9. Meanwhile, the Expectations Index, which is based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business and job market conditions, jumped 17.4 points to 72.8 in the same month. Source: dailycaller.com  Political/Rights Star Harvard Business Professor Who Studied Honesty Pays a Historic Price for a Faculty Member at School After Falsifying Her Findings on Multiple Studies   As The New York Post reported, Francesca Gino,

The Conference Board's latest consumer confidence index notched its highest monthly increase in four years. To be clear, it was coming off a five-year low in April, but the jump still represents cooling trade war anxieties among American consumers. Also in this episode: The U.S. isn't the only country experiencing rising bond yields, durable goods orders fell in April and first-time home owners in Houston are saddled with climate-related cost burdens.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. 

Tariffs and stock market movements remained top of mind for consumers in May. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—showed modest improvement overall. Expectations for business conditions and the labor market inched up but stayed in pessimistic territory. The key bright spot was income expectations, which moved into positive territory, supported by a stronger stock market and early signs of progress on a trade deal with China.    Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, sits down with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators, and Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist, to discuss the outlook for the US GDP, whether consumers are worried about a recession, and how the Fed might handle the current uncertainty.    00:38 Consumer Confidence in May   01:34 Impact of Tariffs and Financial Markets   04:08 Consumer Expectations and Spending   08:21 Inflation and Financial Concerns   13:03 Changes in US and Global Economic Forecasts   21:10 Factors Influencing Future Economic Outlook   22:46 Conclusion and Farewell  

On Monday, the Conference Board released the April Leading Economic Index; Kevin talks about how two different news agencies covered the release; discusses the data, offers his insights and puts the information into historic perspective. The United Nations has forecast global economic growth for 2025 and 2026; Kevin takes a look at the information and offers his opinion and insights.

On Monday, the Conference Board released the April Leading Economic Index; Kevin talks about how two different news agencies covered the release; discusses the data, offers his insights and puts the information into historic perspective. The United Nations has forecast global economic growth for 2025 and 2026; Kevin takes a look at the information and offers his opinion and insights.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped in June. That's after a brief reprive in May from a monthslong downward slide. Uncertainty surrounding the job market, tariffs, that GOP tax bill, trouble in the Middle East — what's not to be glum about? In this episode, we explain what could shift the mood. Plus: Soon-to-be college grads in China prepare for an unwelcoming job market, oil shipping prices grow even as oil prices fall, and Congress considers a new way to regulate crypto.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The 5:5:5 Good Game of Stupid Edition: Normal/Trump/Funny (to me)Normal93% of U.S. Executives Desire Board Member ReplacementsIn a recent survey conducted by PwC and The Conference Board, a substantial majority of senior executives in the U.S. expressed a desire for changes within their company's board of directors.The study revealed that 93% of the 520 top managers surveyed want at least one board member replaced, marking a record high in the survey's five-year history.The findings highlight growing tensions between management and boards, as 32% of executives reported board members interfering in day-to-day operations, a significant increase from 16% the previous year.Concerns were also raised about directors' performance being hindered by age and overcommitment, with 56% and 47% of respondents citing these issues, respectively.Tejon shareholders vote in activist investor, remove longtime directorAndrew Dakos received 19,785,261 proxy votes in favor to 17,338,888 against, which allowed him to unseat 24-year director Michael Winer, who received 821,536 in favor and 2,974,871 againstNew Jersey activist group Bulldog InvestorsPhillip Goldstein (19,757,851/17,342,618); Chair (2015-) and Director (1998-) Norman Metcalfe (81) somehow reelected (19,807,311/3,547,606) Shell Faces Fresh Legal Challenge Over Development of New Oil and Gas FieldsDutch environmental group Milieudefensie said by developing new fields, the oil and gas giant is in breach of legal duties to cut carbon emissionsStarbucks doubles down on baristas, not AI, to fix its customer crunchElon Musk says he will spend ‘a lot less' on future campaign donationsElon Musk commits to leading Tesla for next five yearsTrumpTrump tells Walmart to 'eat the tariffs' instead of raising pricesLA Port shipments fell 30% in early May after Trump tariffsMeet the New York Times CEO: She's outmaneuvering tech, Trump, and an industry in crisisMeredith Kopit Levien: the youngest person and second woman to lead the institution in its 173-year history.Business owners with unfortunately named companies face fallout thanks to Trump's war on wokeDavid Markley called his business DEI. which stands for Design Engineering Inc., long before the Trump backlash took off.Another business named DEI is the restaurant supply company owned by Ricardo Gomez.Trump signs bipartisan Take It Down Act to fight ‘revenge porn' and deepfakesTrump said that under the law, “anyone who intentionally distributes explicit images without the subject's consent will face up to three years of prison.In addition, this law establishes new civil liabilities for online platforms that refuse to take these images down promptly upon request. We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation.”Funny (to me)Engineers Reveal Robot That Takes Care of Old People So You Don't Have toNetflix Faces Backlash From Conservatives After Picking Up Sesame Street: 'W Is for Woke'UBS deploys AI analyst clones UBS has started using artificial intelligence to turn its analysts into avatars, sending videos of the simulated bankers to clients in a move the lender said would free up staff to focus on more productive tasks.JPMorgan CEO Dimon Still Intends to Step Down in Next Few Years. ‘It's Up to the Board.' Henry Schein Appoints Dan Daniel to Board of DirectorsFirst name is actually Williamformer EVP of Danaher Corporation

Consumer confidence serves as a vital statistical measurethat reflects how consumers feel about both current and anticipated economicconditions. It acts as a key indicator of the overall health of the economy.Recent data has shown a troubling decline in consumer confidence, a trend thatcould have significant ramifications for entrepreneurs.  In April, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Indexplummeted to its lowest level in five years, a stark indication of shiftingsentiments among consumers. Adding to this concerning picture, a recent surveyfrom The Associated Press-NORC Center revealed that nearly half of Americansare apprehensive about the prospect of a recession, highlighting widespreadanxiety about the economic landscape. Colin Walsh, who has successfully built and sold beautycompanies valued over half a billion dollars—most notably the sale of OUAI toProcter & Gamble—has navigated numerous challenges associated with scalingbusinesses while striving to maintain balance and fulfillment. His extensiveexperiences have greatly shaped his strategic approach at Procter &Gamble's Specialty Beauty division and are also central to his innovative newventure, YayDay. In our recent conversation, Colin delved into varioustopics, including business leadership, the intricacies of entrepreneurship, andthe crucial timing for scaling a business. For more information:  please visit: https://www.myyayday.com/ à If you wish toconnect, with Colin  feel free to reachout via email at colin@myyayday.com or follow along on Instagram at@colin.j.walsh.

As HR becomes more strategic, CHROs are building their presence inside the boardroom.     The latest research from The Conference Board shows that chief human resource officers (CHROs) are engaging much more with corporate boards in recent years. How can CHROs continue being a strategic partner while helping companies navigate the future of work?     Join Steve Odland and guests Rita Meyerson, EdD, principal researcher in The Conference Board's Human Capital Center, and Andrew Jones, PhD, principal researcher in The Conference Board's Governance & Sustainability Center. They discuss what the CEO-CHRO partnership should look like, how CHROs can improve cross-functional collaboration, and how CHROs are engaging more with boards these days.     For more from The Conference Board:  The Evolving Role of the CHRO in the Boardroom  Seizing the Future as CHROs: A Guide to the 2025 C-Suite Outlook  Productivity Through People: New Opportunities for CHROs 

Another day, another crash; or crashes. Conference Board expectations plunged to their lowest level since 2011. Another Fed PMI plummets. Two-year Treasury yields hit their lows. All pointing to that Beveridge transition.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisConference Board Consumer Confidence April 2025https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence/press/CCI-Apr-2025Atlanta Fed GDPNowhttps://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnowBloomberg Economists Say Trade War Makes US Recession Almost a Coin Fliphttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-04-25/economists-say-trade-war-makes-us-recession-almost-a-coin-fliphttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

The Case-Shiller U.S National Home Price Index was released yesterday; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts it into historical perspective, and offers his insights. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index was released, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Kevin reviews the details and offers his insights and opinions on the reports. Kevin has the supply and demand numbers, including expectations for corporate earnings, tariff talks, crude oil inventory levels, and geopolitical events that affect oil and gas prices.

The Case-Shiller U.S National Home Price Index was released yesterday; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts it into historical perspective, and offers his insights. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index was released, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Kevin reviews the details and offers his insights and opinions on the reports. Kevin has the supply and demand numbers, including expectations for corporate earnings, tariff talks, crude oil inventory levels, and geopolitical events that affect oil and gas prices.

Consumer confidence plunges to a 13-year low — is a recession next?  Consumer confidence declined for a fifth consecutive month in April, to levels not seen since May 2020. With Americans' spending comprising 70% of economic growth, what could their growing concerns mean for the US this year?    Three specific expectation components – business conditions, employment prospects and future income – all dropped sharply, reflecting deep pessimism about the future. Crucially, the number of consumers expecting fewer jobs in the next six months was nearly as high as in April 2009, the middle of the “Great Recession.” Americans' concerns about the wider economy are bleeding into worries about their own personal situations.     Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, sits down with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators, and Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist to unpack how this could shape US and global economic growth this year.    For more from The Conference Board:  US Consumer Confidence Plunged Again in April  Economy Watch Webcast on May 14  Labor Markets Watch on May 21 

EUA divulgam dado de emprego JOLTS e índices da Conference Board.

Change is constant, and that's why your business needsa structured change management strategy.     Your business is constantly changing, even if you don't use the term “change management” to describe it. What does successful change management look like, and how can business leaders do this successfully in a time of uncertainty?     Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, Center Leader of The Conference Board'US Human Capital Center, to learn about change management's history, how to win employee buy-in, and how HR leaders can help organizations adapt.    (00:00) Introduction to C-Suite Perspectives (00:16) Meet Diana Scott: Change Management Expert (00:51) Understanding Change Management (01:59) The Human Reaction to Change (03:05) Proactive vs. Reactive Change Management (04:14) The Evolution of Change Management (07:13) Implementing Change: Key Steps (13:52) The Importance of Transparency and Communication   For more from The Conference Board:  CHRO Summit: Navigating through a Tsunami of Change  Upcoming Webcast: Change is Changing: How Organizations Can Master Change Management  On Demand: How to Beat the Odds and Succeed When 70% of Organizational Transformations Fail  

Organizations have more data at their fingertips than ever, and their ability to put that data to productive use should be a key source of sustainable competitive advantage. Yet, business leaders looking to tap into a steady and manageable stream of “actionable insights” often, instead, get blasted with a deluge of dashboards, chart-filled slide decks, and opaque machine learning jargon that leaves them asking, “So what?”  Analytics the Right Way: A Business Leader's Guide to Putting Data to Productive Use (Wiley, 2025) is a guide for these leaders. It provides a clear and practical approach to putting analytics to productive use with a three-part framework that brings together the realities of the modern business environment with the deep truths underpinning statistics, computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The result: a pragmatic and actionable guide for delivering clarity, order, and business impact to an organization's use of data and analytics. The book uses a combination of real-world examples from the authors' direct experiences—working inside organizations, as external consultants, and as educators—mixed with vivid hypotheticals and illustrations—little green aliens, petty criminals with an affinity for ice cream, skydiving without parachutes, and more—to empower the reader to put foundational analytical and statistical concepts to effective use in a business context. Joe Sutherland has worked as an executive, public servant, and educator for the Dow Jones 30, The White House, and our nation's top universities. His firm, J.L. Sutherland & Associates, has attracted clients such as Box, Cisco, Canva, The Conference Board, and Fulcrum Equity Partners. He founded the Center for AI Learning at Emory University, which focuses on AI literacy and integration for the general public. Caleb Zakarin is editor at the New Books Network. Let's face it, most of the popular podcasts out there are dumb. NBN features scholars (like you!), providing an enriching alternative to students. We partner with presses like Oxford, Princeton, and Cambridge to make academic research accessible to all. Please consider sharing the New Books Network with your students. Download this poster here to spread the word. Please share this interview on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Bluesky. Don't forget to subscribe to our Substack here to receive our weekly newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Organizations have more data at their fingertips than ever, and their ability to put that data to productive use should be a key source of sustainable competitive advantage. Yet, business leaders looking to tap into a steady and manageable stream of “actionable insights” often, instead, get blasted with a deluge of dashboards, chart-filled slide decks, and opaque machine learning jargon that leaves them asking, “So what?”  Analytics the Right Way: A Business Leader's Guide to Putting Data to Productive Use (Wiley, 2025) is a guide for these leaders. It provides a clear and practical approach to putting analytics to productive use with a three-part framework that brings together the realities of the modern business environment with the deep truths underpinning statistics, computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The result: a pragmatic and actionable guide for delivering clarity, order, and business impact to an organization's use of data and analytics. The book uses a combination of real-world examples from the authors' direct experiences—working inside organizations, as external consultants, and as educators—mixed with vivid hypotheticals and illustrations—little green aliens, petty criminals with an affinity for ice cream, skydiving without parachutes, and more—to empower the reader to put foundational analytical and statistical concepts to effective use in a business context. Joe Sutherland has worked as an executive, public servant, and educator for the Dow Jones 30, The White House, and our nation's top universities. His firm, J.L. Sutherland & Associates, has attracted clients such as Box, Cisco, Canva, The Conference Board, and Fulcrum Equity Partners. He founded the Center for AI Learning at Emory University, which focuses on AI literacy and integration for the general public. Caleb Zakarin is editor at the New Books Network. Let's face it, most of the popular podcasts out there are dumb. NBN features scholars (like you!), providing an enriching alternative to students. We partner with presses like Oxford, Princeton, and Cambridge to make academic research accessible to all. Please consider sharing the New Books Network with your students. Download this poster here to spread the word. Please share this interview on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Bluesky. Don't forget to subscribe to our Substack here to receive our weekly newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin offers his thoughts on the passing of Pope Francis. The Conference Board released its Leading Economic Index; Kevin has the details, sorts through the data, reviews the reporting on this report compared with previous reporting on past reports; Kevin offers his insights and opinion. Carmakers discuss their plans on how to deal with potential effects of possible tariffs. March Class 8 truck sales have been reported; Kevin has the details. Kevin has the information, data, world events and economic data affecting oil and gas prices.

Kevin offers his thoughts on the passing of Pope Francis. The Conference Board released its Leading Economic Index; Kevin has the details, sorts through the data, reviews the reporting on this report compared with previous reporting on past reports; Kevin offers his insights and opinion. Carmakers discuss their plans on how to deal with potential effects of possible tariffs. March Class 8 truck sales have been reported; Kevin has the details. Kevin has the information, data, world events and economic data affecting oil and gas prices.

e.l.f. Beauty —a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards— is the only cosmetics brand to have grownits market share for 24 consecutive quarters, all while being a leader in innovation, diversity, and Fair Trade certification.What lessons can other businesses learn from e.l.f.'sembrace of diversity, sustainability, and affordable products?     Join Steve Odlandand guest Tarang Amin, chairman and CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, to find out how e.l.f.aligns its purpose with customer values, how the companyformulatesproducts that are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, and why e.l.f. wants to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, and face.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society.    (00:35) Elf Beauty's Mission and History (01:58) Building Brands and High-Performance Teams (02:50) Purpose-Driven Strategy and Values (04:51) Sustainability and Social Impact (12:19) Innovation and Technology in Sustainability (13:58) Global Expansion and Market Strategy (18:19) Supply Chain and Responsible Sourcing (23:25) Continuous Improvement and Future Goals   For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Corporate Responsibility Summit  2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner  Regulatory Shifts in ESG: What Comes Next for US Companies? 

Sam Fenwick is joined by Erin Mc Laughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board in New York and Simon Littlewood, a business consultant based in Singapore.Two years into a civil war, Sudan is home to the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The International Red Cross is urging all sides to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure.We hear about Chinese president Xi Jinping's tour around Southeast Asia and what Malaysia stands to gain from new trade deals with China.Also in the programme, why are Chinese influencers going viral on TikTok over tariffs?

Food, people, and planet—these are the three north stars that help Yum! Brands —a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards—focus its sustainability efforts across water use, energy, packaging, and more. What lessons can other businesses learn from the sustainability success of this multinational company?     Join Steve Odland and guest Jon Hixson, chief sustainability officer at Yum! Brands, to find out why your sustainability strategy requires north stars,how the company wins buy-in from franchisees, and what advice he gives to up-and-coming sustainability leaders.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society.    (01:54) Defining Sustainability in the Food Industry  (05:06) Key Trends in Corporate Sustainability  (06:46) Yum! Brands' Strategy: People, Food, and Planet  (10:49) Global Operations and Supply Chain Challenges  (18:50) Leveraging Technology for Sustainability  (21:49) Franchisee Engagement and Regulatory Challenges  (25:35) Future Priorities and Advice for Sustainability Leaders      For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Corporate Responsibility Summit  2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner  Organizing for Success in Corporate Sustainability 2.0 

U.S. businesses are already facing tough challenges as a result of President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. We hear from small business owners across the country about how they are being impacted, and Amna Nawaz discusses the ongoing trade war with Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

U.S. businesses are already facing tough challenges as a result of President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. We hear from small business owners across the country about how they are being impacted, and Amna Nawaz discusses the ongoing trade war with Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Learn how Prudential Financial continues to serve all stakeholders through clarity of purpose.     Prudential Financial has served its local community of Newark, New Jersey, for 150 years, and that's one reason it is a recipient of The Conference Board 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards. How does the company choose when and where to invest, and how does it scale those efforts globally?      Join Steve Odland and guest Lata Reddy, senior vice president, inclusive solutions, at Prudential Financial and chair of the Prudential Foundation, to find out about Prudential's commitment to Newark, why partnerships are essential, and why the company chose "inclusive solutions” as the best title to describe their corporate responsibility mission.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society.    (01:25) Prudential's Legacy in Newark (02:36) Newark's Evolution and Prudential's Role (06:38) Global Impact and Local Prioritization (10:51) Employee Engagement and Volunteerism (16:29) Inclusive Solutions and Corporate Strategy (20:49) Looking Ahead: Future Strategies     For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Corporate Responsibility Summit  2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner  Infusing Community Needs into Products and Services: Lessons from Prudential   

U.S. businesses are already facing tough challenges as a result of President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs. We hear from small business owners across the country about how they are being impacted, and Amna Nawaz discusses the ongoing trade war with Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at the Conference Board. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Newsrooms, dinner tables and just about everyone in between woke up on the edge of their seats the morning of April 2 - the day US President Donald Trump dubbed 'liberation day' - but heading to bed, it was more of an uneasy feeling of 'now what?'. A few days later as the dust has started to settle, the confusion and ambiguity, however, has not. Although Canada was not on Trump's exhaustive reciprocal tariff list, 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles exported to America did apply to Canadian cars. Prime Minister Mark Carney struck back with 25% retaliatory tariffs on foreign-made vehicles imported to Canada, but the lines remained blurred with the Canada-US trade future. What tariffs are in place, what aren't, how many jobs are on the line, how much more expensive will cars be, and whose economy will be feeling the effects the worst? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Principal Economist with the Conference Board of Canada, Richard Forbes gets to the bottom of Trump's latest tariff announcement. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

This 4th Generation CEO Shares Timeless Advice & The Importance Of Having A Strong Code Of Ethics – Meet Michael Benstock Superior Group of Companies Inc $SGCGuest:Michael Benstock CEO Chairman Of The Board at Superior Group of Companies IncTicker: $SGCWebsite:www.SuperiorGroupofCompanies.comBio:Michael Benstock is chairperson of the Board of Directors. He has served in this capacity since February 28, 2023. Mr. Benstock has served as a Director of the Company since 1985. He also is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, having served in this capacity since October 24, 2003 and served as Co-President of the Company beginning May 1, 1992. Prior to such date, Mr. Benstock served as Executive Vice President of the Company. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and multiple board committees of Crown Crafts, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWS) and the Board of Trustees of The Committee for Economic Development of the Conference Board. Mr. Benstock served as a director with USAmeriBank, Inc. from 2007 until its sale to Valley National Bank in 2017 and was its audit Chairperson during the last few years prior to the sale.

The Conference Board issued the Consumer Confidence Index, Kevin has the details, talks about the data and offers his insights. Kevin speaks with Jody Pollard, SVP of Truck and Aftermarket Sales and Robb Nixon, VP of Aftermarket Sales, Rush Enterprises about Rush Truck Centers Maintenance Plans, Mobile Service, update on emissions regs and 2025 outlook. The U.S. Census Bureau reported February New Home Sales, Kevin explains and discusses the data. Kevin points out the factors and news affecting oil prices.

Andrew Polk is the co-founder and head of economic research at Trivium China, a Beijing-based strategic advisory firm. Before founding Trivium, he was China director at Medley Global Advisors. Previously, he was the resident China economist at The Conference Board's China Center for Economics and Business. Andrew is the co-author of The Long, Soft Fall in Chinese Growth (The Conference Board, 2015) and maintains a deep network of professional contacts in the official, academic, and business communities in China (built over a decade of living in China and working on China issues). This podcast covers China's unique development model, Xi Jinping's economic philosophy, transitioning from property-driven growth to new industries, and much more.    Follow us here for more amazing insights: https://macrohive.com/home-prime/ https://twitter.com/Macro_Hive https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-hive

We’re tackling a “mysterious and important” question in today’s episode: Should Congress use “current policy” or “current law” baseline when measuring tax cuts? It’s not unlike our reporter’s internal struggle on whether to cancel Apple TV+ now that Season 2 of “Severance” has ended, or renew it. Except lawmakers are dealing with trillions of dollars. Plus: African immigrants fill critical home health aide roles in Texas, and The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index falls for the third-straight month.

We’re tackling a “mysterious and important” question in today’s episode: Should Congress use “current policy” or “current law” baseline when measuring tax cuts? It’s not unlike our reporter’s internal struggle on whether to cancel Apple TV+ now that Season 2 of “Severance” has ended, or renew it. Except lawmakers are dealing with trillions of dollars. Plus: African immigrants fill critical home health aide roles in Texas, and The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index falls for the third-straight month.

Three key changes are impacting today's labor market: a changing workforce composition, evolving attitudes toward work, and new tools and technologies to empower employees and candidates. HR leaders must understand the implications of these changes as they set talent strategies and build out capabilities for their organizations. Gad Levanon, chief economist of the Burning Glass Institute, joins the Talent Angle to discuss evolving dynamics in the labor market and offer practical recommendations to HR leaders. He explains how organizations must pull a variety of levers, from technology to rewards and learning programs, at the same time to gain an edge in the talent market.   Gad Levanon is chief economist of the Burning Glass Institute. Previously, Gad was with The Conference Board where he was founder of the Labor Market Institute and led the Help Wanted OnLine program. His research focuses on trends in U.S. and global labor markets, the U.S. economy, and their impact on employers. Before The Conference Board, he worked at the Bank of Israel​. He received his doctorate in economics from Princeton University, and he holds undergraduate and master's degrees from Tel Aviv University.   Dion Love is a vice president of research and advisory services at Gartner. He's a labor market expert, focusing on global labor market trends and what they mean for organizations' talent and business strategies, as well as broader social and economic issues. In his work at Gartner, Dion advises clients on key aspects of talent acquisition, including talent acquisition function planning and management, talent needs definition and internal recruiting, employment branding and recruitment marketing, and talent sourcing and selection. He has co-authored more than 12 strategic research studies at Gartner. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and industry publications, as well as Gartner HR Leaders Monthly and Smarter With Gartner.    

Two recent surveys indicate that U.S. consumer confidence has shown a notable decline amid talks about inflation and potential tariff. Our Head of Corporate Credit Research Andrew Sheets discusses the market implications.----- Transcript -----Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Andrew Sheets, head of Corporate Credit Research at Morgan Stanley. Today I'm going to talk about the consumer side of the confidence debate. It's Thursday, February 27th at 2pm in London. Two weeks ago on this program I discussed signs that uncertainty in U.S. government policy might be hitting corporate confidence, as evidenced by an unusually slow start to the year for dealmaking. That development is a mixed bag. Less confidence and more conservatism in companies holds back investment and reduces the odds of the type of animal spirits that can drive large gains. But it can be a good thing for lenders, who generally prefer companies to be more cautious and more risk-averse. But this question of confidence is also relevant for consumers. And today, I want to discuss what some of the early surveys suggest and how it can impact our view.To start with something that may sound obvious but is nonetheless important, Confidence is an extremely powerful psychological force in the economy and financial markets. If you feel good enough about the future, you'll buy a stock or a car with little regard to the price or how the economy might feel at the moment. And if you're worried, you won't buy those same things, even if your current conditions are still ok, or if the prices are even cheaper. Confidence, you could say, can trump almost everything else. And so this might help explain the market's intense focus on two key surveys over the last week that suggested that US consumer confidence has been deteriorating sharply.First, a monthly survey by the University of Michigan showed a drop in consumer confidence and a rise in expected inflation. And then a few days later, on Tuesday, a similar survey from the Conference Board showed a similar pattern, with consumers significantly more worried about the future, even if they felt the current conditions hadn't much changed. While different factors could be at play, there is at least circumstantial evidence that the flurry of recent U.S. policy actions may be playing a role. This drop in confidence, for example, was new, and has only really showed up in the last month or two. And the University of Michigan survey actually asks its respondents how news of Government Economic policy is impacting their level of confidence. And that response, over the last month, showed a precipitous decline. These confidence surveys are often called ‘soft' data, as opposed to the hard economic numbers like the actual sales of cars or heavy equipment. But the reason they matter, and the reason investors listened to them this week, is that they potentially do something that other data cannot. One of the biggest challenges that investors face when looking at economic data is that financial markets often anticipate, and move ahead of turns in the underlying hard economic numbers. And so if expectations are predictive of the future, they may provide that important, more leading signal. One weak set of consumer confidence isn't enough to change the overall picture, but it certainly has our attention. Our U.S. economists generally agree with these respondents in expecting somewhat slower growth and stickier inflation over the next 18 months; and Morgan Stanley continues to forecast lower bond yields across the U.S. and Europe on the expectation that uncertainties around growth will persist. For credit investors, less confidence remains a double-edged sword, and credit markets have been somewhat more stable than other assets. But we would view further deterioration in confidence as a negative – given the implications for growth, even if it meant a somewhat easier policy path. Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

The Conference Board reported the biggest monthly decline in consumer confidence since 2021. The University of Michigan also reported a sharp decline in optimism, along with a steep increase in inflation expectations. The reasons? Threats of tariffs, high cost-of-living expenses and general uncertainty. Also on the show: a draft deal for the U.S. to access Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and a proposed green card for wealthy people.

The Conference Board reported the biggest monthly decline in consumer confidence since 2021. The University of Michigan also reported a sharp decline in optimism, along with a steep increase in inflation expectations. The reasons? Threats of tariffs, high cost-of-living expenses and general uncertainty. Also on the show: a draft deal for the U.S. to access Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and a proposed green card for wealthy people.