Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Surprisingly durable US economy poses key question: Are we facing higher-for-longer interest rates? One after another, economists have postponed or reversed their earlier forecasts for a U.S. recession. Optimism that the Fed will pull off a difficult “soft landing” — in which it would manage to reduce inflation to… Read more
It’s hard to go a day without reading something in the news about the state of the economy. Whether it’s interest rates rising or the cost of living, there’s no getting around the fact that in 2023 there are many doing it tougher than a few years ago. But while there are some economic challenges for individuals and businesses, it’s important to not go too far down the rabbit hole.… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Economy’s solid growth could require more Fed hikes to fight inflation, Powell says at Jackson Hole The continued strength of the U.S. economy could require further interest rate increases, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said. Powell noted that the economy has been growing faster than expected and that consumers have kept… Read more
As a business owner, you know that the right people are crucial to your company’s success. The best employees can help you achieve your business goals, improve your productivity, and drive growth. But finding the people best suited to your team can be daunting, and sometimes it’s easy to hire someone who seems okay, rather than taking the time to find the best fit. Here are some steps you can… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Mortgage rates are at a 21-year high. Here’s what that means for you. Mortgage rates hit a 21-year high this week, a milestone that makes home buying a much more expensive prospect for those who are interested in doing so. According to Freddie Mac, the rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage… Read more
As a small business owner, you always look to keep your business running efficiently. Expense reimbursement fraud is the last thing you want to face. Not only can it hurt your bottom line, but it can also damage your company’s reputation. Here we discuss what is employee expense fraud, reasons behind it, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening to your business. What is expense fraud? Expense fraud… Read more
tarting a new business can be incredibly exciting, but it’s important to thoroughly evaluate your business idea before taking the plunge to ensure you’re creating a sustainable and successful venture. To get started, here are 9 questions to consider as part of an overall evaluation process. Save yourself money, time, and heartache down the line by investing a little time now. What customer problem does your business solve? Your business… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. If the US economy is so good, why are small business owners so pessimistic? There are 33m small businesses in the US, with about 6m of them employer-owned. Each of these people has their own reasons for feeling less confident about the economy. According to the most recent monthly… Read more
For a small business owner, managing finances can be a daunting task. Keeping track of expenses, payments, and cash flow can be overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with debt too. A business loan, line of credit or a business credit card can help your company hire new employees, purchase inventory, purchase equipment, and finance growth, but too much debt can become an unsustainable expense. Debt management is vital to the… Read more
As a business owner, the thought of selling your company can be quite daunting. You’ve poured your heart and soul into building it, and it’s crucial the company continues to grow even after your departure. An attractive option is selling your business to your employees, those who know your business inside and out and have a vested interest in its success. The upside of employee acquisition Selling your business to… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Why did the US credit rating just get dinged? On August 1, the Fitch Ratings agency downgraded the United States’ long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+ for only the second time in the nation’s history, in what’s generally seen as a signal of concern about the US’s creditworthiness.… Read more
It seems like the perfect storm has hit, with rising interest rates and inflation soaring. As a result, households are dealing with higher borrowing costs, leaving them with less disposable income to spend. And that means businesses are feeling the pinch. To make matters worse, staff shortages are adding to the pressure. Retail sales decline affects all businesses. Almost every sector is experiencing a downturn. Building companies, property companies, retailers,… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Why the Federal Reserve has made everything more expensive to make things less expensive A little bit of science and a little bit of art go into slowing down the behemoth that is the U.S. economy. It seems like a contradiction: How would increasing the cost of monthly credit… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. UPS workers poised for biggest strike in 60 years Thousands of part-time employees at UPS are pushing for higher pay as the Teamsters union, which represents 340,000 UPS workers, and the delivery giant resume contract negotiations next week. If no deal is reached by July 31, the union has… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Senate to hold classified briefing on Artificial Intelligence and National Security Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has invited all 100 senators to a classified briefing on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on global and national security Firefighters are leaving the U.S. Forest Service for better pay and benefits… Read more
No matter what size your business is, or what industry you’re in, supply chain management is often an essential part of running a successful business. As a small business owner, managing the supply chain can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially when you have many other responsibilities to worry about. Fortunately, technology has made it easier to manage your supply chain more efficiently and effectively. Here are some pros and cons… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. IRS warns of new scam involving unclaimed refunds The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners are cautioning taxpayers and tax professionals to beware of a new scam in which fraudsters are sending out cardboard envelopes from a delivery service asking people to send photos and bank account… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Federal Reserve Board releases results of annual bank stress test The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday released the results of its annual bank stress test, which demonstrates that large banks are well positioned to weather a severe recession and continue to lend to households and businesses even during a… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Stocks fall as Fed’s Powell confirms more rate hikes this year U.S. stocks fell across the board on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated more rate hikes are on the way during congressional testimony. Powell, Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testified before… Read more
Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. Biden gambles that delaying sanctions and playing down espionage will improve China relations The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijing’s intensifying intelligence-gathering to avoid jeopardizing its efforts to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments, according to former U.S. officials, congressional aides,… Read more