The Consumer Confidence Index bounced back in November after three straight monthly declines as consumers’ expectations – and spending – continue to improve. Still, predictions for slower economic growth and outright recession in 2024 abound. What does it all mean for the global economy?   In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, the Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the latest Consumer Confidence Index and what it portends for 2024.    Tune in to find out:  · What big change did we see in the latest Consumer Confidence Index?  · Consumer spending is up, but much of it is on credit. What does this portend for the economy?  · How much more can consumer spending expand?  · How will the global economy grow in 2024? Will we see a recession next year?  · What potential black or grey swans could we see in 2024?    For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read: The Consumer Confidence Index for November 2023 

Rural areas account for 20% of the total US population—and 97% of the country’s landmass—but only about 5% of large philanthropic grants are directed to nonurban regions. Why is this?   In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the ESG Center's latest report on corporate citizenship in rural communities.    Tune in to find out:  · What exactly defines a “rural area” in the United States?  · US company headquarters are mostly in cities; how can companies justify donating in areas where they have no presence?  · What benefits can companies expect when they invest more in rural communities?  For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read: Investing in Rural America: Corporate Citizenship and Rural Communities  · Read: Rural Diversity: The Untapped Opportunity for Corporate America 

Medicare costs are expected to jump from 3.8% of GDP in 2023 to 6% in just 10 years. Why is this happening? And what does it mean for everyone seeking health care in the US?  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss how Medicare started, how it has evolved and what we can do to keep it running.    Tune in to find out:  · How did Medicare come about, and how does it work?  · Why does Medicare’s cost as a part of the federal budget continue to grow?  · Could increasing market competition lower costs and improve health care benefits?  · Why should everyone, not just those nearing or at retirement, care about this issue?    For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read the CED report Health Care Policy After the Pandemic  · Watch the on-demand webcast CED Policy Watch: Health Policy After the Pandemic    “Today, Medicare program costs in fiscal year 2023 are about 12% of the total federal government spending; that's about 3.8% of GDP. In 10 years this is expected to become 6% of GDP. So that’s huge.” -- Lori Esposito Murray 

How does a company develop a foundation and plan for giving back to the community? Companies across the country and in every industry are contemplating how to best train their current and future workforce, aligning their values and assets to help drive change in our society.    In this episode of CEO Perspectives, David Etzwiler, CEO, Siemens Foundation, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss how companies can think strategically about how to make their biggest impact.    Tune in to find out:  · What is the best way to develop workforce training programs?  · How can companies reduce health disparities in their communities?  · What can companies do to build sustainability efforts into their planning?    For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read: From Crisis to Opportunity: Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy in 2023  · Attend: 2023 Corporate Citizenship Summit    “The fact of the matter is, growth in the labor market is slowing, when it comes to white males and older white males. And so you have to look at your practices -- as a society, as an employer, as an academician -- and ask yourself, how do I appeal to a different market? How do I make sure that women understand these jobs are out here [and] what the value of them is? How do I think through how childcare or transportation might have to be better developed? How do I think of community communities of color, and how they perceive or don't perceive access to these jobs?” -- David Etzwiler, CEO, Siemens Foundation    “We're very narrowly focused within workforce training, those jobs that require more than a high school degree, less than a college degree and strong technical skills. … These are a floor to a career, not a ceiling to a career. They're really an opportunity to advance to the middle class and beyond.” -- David Etzwiler, CEO, Siemens Foundation

Being a CEO is like playing tennis against 10 people at once. That’s the take of one former CEO who now leads and coaches C-Suite executives. When there are a million things flying at you at once, how do you delegate, negotiate and manage?  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Jack Stahl, co-founder of CNEXT, joins The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the five key components of successful C-Suite leadership.    Tune in to find out:  · What three key tasks does every CEO need to deliver on?  · How can leaders encourage workers to effectively use their time in-office?  · Are informal conversations better than formal training programs?    For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read content on Coaching, Mentorship & Sponsorship  · Access the Global Executive Coaching Survey 2023 (Member only)    “Being a CEO, or even a senior leader inside a company, is kind of like playing tennis against 10 people at once. Things are coming at you so fast, and so furious, so having a way to think about the work that you do can be very powerful.” -- Jack Stahl, co-founder of CNEXT 

Recent years have tested our resiliency in myriad ways: a global pandemic, wars, and economic uncertainly have all strained our limits. We often think about resiliency in individual terms, but what does it look like for businesses to be resilient? And how can companies cultivate flexibility in the face of change?    In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Jon Bahl, CEO of Agility Recovery, joins Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center at The Conference Board, to discuss how organizations can make operational resilience a competitive advantage.    Tune in to find out:  · What is operational resilience?  · How do companies and other organizations cultivate it?  · What would it look like to simplify resiliency and make it more accessible?  · How can CEOs themselves be more resilient?  · What five disruptions are resiliency professionals calling out as ones to watch?    For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · Read: Making Operational Resilience a Competitive Advantage  · Access: The ESG Center at The Conference Board 

Today's research from The Conference Board shows US consumer confidence declined moderately in October—a trend C-Suite executives will want to watch. Consumers are particularly concerned about rising food and energy costs.   In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, joins Erik Lundh, Principal Economist, both of The Conference Board, to discuss newly released data on consumer confidence in the US.    Tune in to find out:  · What is the main message the C-Suite should take away from today’s US Consumer Confidence Index?   ·  What caused the movement in the overall confidence index?  · What is The Conference Board’s forecast for the US economy, and does it match consumers’ expectations?  · How will rising consumer debt affect the financial sector?           For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  · The Consumer Confidence Index for October 2023  · Q3 GDP expands by an unsustainable 4.9 percent 

The Conference Board expects global growth to slow to 2.5%, well below the 3.3% average prior to the pandemic. Declining contributions from labor and capital are mainly responsible for the downward trend. But new technologies, investment in people, and high productivity could improve growth. What should leaders know about operating in this environment? In this episode, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the outlook and economic conditions around the globe.     Tune in to find out:    ·       What are the upsides and downsides to the outlook over the next decade?   ·       How are the three inputs to the global economy—labor, capital, and productivity—shifting and impacting growth? What will this “mix” look like in the decade ahead?  ·       What trends are on the horizon—globally and within regions?  ·       Which economies will drive growth over the next decade?   ·       How might the Israel-Hamas war effect the MENA region economy, and consequently, the rest of the world?     For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™:      ·       Read: Global Economic Outlook 2024 to 2036  ·       Read: Economic Forecast for the US Economy  ·       Visit: The Global Recession Hub: Navigating the Economic Storm (continuously updated)  ·       Visit: Data Central for forecasts and long-term projections 

With recent rating downgrades of banks heavily exposed to commercial real estate (CRE)—and office space in particular—concerns about the US banking sector are resurfacing. The unprecedented shift to flexible work has not only prompted many companies to seek a smaller footprint but also spaces with greater energy efficiency for sustainability and modern amenities to lure workers back to the office.  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist in the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss what this shift and plummeting CRE values may mean for banking, lending, and economy in general.      Tune in to find out:     · How have business conditions changed in the wake of hybrid work arrangements?     · Small and mid-size banks hold the most CRE assets; what could this mean for their future or for M&A activity?   · What is the Fed doing to prevent bank failures?     · What are the potential ripple effects throughout the economy—and the urban landscape?       For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™:      · Read: 2023 Banking Crisis: US By the Numbers, 6-Month Update   · Watch: Economy Watch: The 2024 Global Economic Outlook 

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™ for Q4 shows that US CEOs are less optimistic about the economy than they were last quarter. So how should leaders be thinking about the opportunities and risks in the current economy? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana M Peterson, Chief Economist, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss what’s top-of-mind for CEOs right now—and what this could mean to all leaders thinking about strategy in the current economic climate.       Tune in to find out:   · CEOs say they’re planning to increase investment. Does this make sense in the current economy?   · Are CEOs still expecting a recession? · What does this mean for the labor and wages? · How are CEOs prioritizing risks?  · What’s in store for future interest rate hikes or cuts?      For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™:    · See the survey results: CEO Confidence Dips in Q4  · Read: The Global Economic Outlook · Read: US Consumer Confidence Fell Again in September