Tariff tips, tales from the CFO Leadership conference

Tariff engineering, exercising “reasonable care,” and checking invoices for erroneous duty charges are some tactics CFOs can use to mitigate the impact of import duties. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • June 5, 2025

Audit partner pessimism surges amid risk of recession: CAQ survey

U.S. gross domestic product will likely expand during the second quarter at a 3.8% annual rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

By Jim Tyson • June 5, 2025

US hiring slows, service industry falters amid trade war turbulence

“After a strong start to the year, hiring is losing momentum,” according to an economist at ADP Research.

By Jim Tyson • June 4, 2025

Tariffs to spur inflation, slow US GDP growth to 1.6% this year: OECD

Several economists in recent months have said import levies imposed by the Trump administration will probably spur inflation in 2025.

By Jim Tyson • June 3, 2025

Everyone feels tariffs. It’s up to CFOs to manage the impact.

Understanding price elasticity at both the category and product level is now essential to effective pricing, an author and consultant who specializes on pricing writes.

By Hermann Simon • June 3, 2025

Regulatory clarity ‘foundational’ for crypto: Gemini CFO

Newly-minted Gemini CFO Dan Chen emphasized the importance of clear regulatory frameworks as the Trump administration continues to woo the crypto industry.

By Grace Noto • May 29, 2025

Consumer pessimism eases amid cooling in U.S.-China tariff war

The share of consumers expecting a recession over the next 12 months fell in May, the Conference Board said.

By Jim Tyson • Updated May 28, 2025

U.S. output grows following tariff détente with China: S&P Global survey

Any recovery in U.S. output this month may prove short lived given that 10% baseline tariffs still stand, according to economists.

By Jim Tyson • May 22, 2025

Invoice rejection spike suggests tactic’s use as tariff buffer, study says

The sharp rise suggests firms seek to delay payments as they did in the pandemic, according to an analysis from Basware, a financial automation company.  

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 19, 2025

Surging federal debt to raise borrowing costs, erode investment: Peterson

Interest rates initially rose Monday, the first day of bond trading after Moody’s Ratings late Friday cited the gloomy fiscal outlook and downgraded U.S. debt.

By Jim Tyson • May 19, 2025

Inflation expected to surge to 7.3% in a year, fueled by tariff worry

Consumer sentiment has slumped this year even as recent “hard data” reveal stable prices and robust hiring.

By Jim Tyson • May 16, 2025

FASB clarifies rules for warrants, share-based payments

The GAAP update will affect how companies account for share-based financial instruments such as warrants that they grant to customers as a kind of rebate to incentivize purchases. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 16, 2025

Why spreadsheets aren’t going away anytime soon

Spreadsheets are not just a tool of the past; they will be a vital component of the future of finance, Gartner’s Mike Helsel writes.

By Mike Helsel • May 16, 2025

House committee advances bill with ‘big three’ business tax relief

The bill advanced Wednesday by the House Ways and Means Committee would extend some business-friendly tax cuts from President Donald Trump’s first term.  

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 14, 2025

Inflation slows more than forecast as tariff retreat eases price pressure

Even after recent tariff reductions, U.S. consumers face an effective tariff rate of 17.8%, the highest level since 1934, the Yale Budget Lab said.

By Jim Tyson • May 13, 2025

AI is stirring mixed feelings among CFOs, survey finds

The research highlights a “trust gap between the untested promise of AI and the wariness of security and privacy risks,” finance software company Kyriba said.

By Alexei Alexis • May 13, 2025

House committee set to vote on budget legislation extending tax cuts

The bill under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee lays the foundation for much of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

By Jim Tyson • May 12, 2025

Prologis CFO details a $6B credit line strategy for turbulent times

The industrial real estate company’s finance chief says multiple credit lines both shield the balance sheet from market disruptions and enable the REIT to seize on opportunities.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 12, 2025

US, China agree to reduce tariff rates for 90 days

By Wednesday, the two countries will charge 10% baseline duties during the period and remove certain retaliatory levies that pushed rates over 100%.

By Philip Neuffer • May 12, 2025

Jobless claims fell in early May despite ramp up of tariffs

Consumer expectations for earnings growth and the availability of jobs in a year declined in April, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said.

By Jim Tyson • May 8, 2025

PwC cuts 2% of US workforce, citing ‘historically low’ attrition

This week the Big Four firm shed 1,500 workers in its assurance and tax units — including accountants — layoffs that aren’t tied to AI, PwC said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • May 8, 2025

Fed warns of rising inflation, unemployment risks; holds rates steady

“Uncertainty about the economic impact has increased further,” policymakers said in a statement after a two-day meeting.

By Jim Tyson • Updated May 7, 2025

US service industry gains strength despite global trade war

A gauge of prices last month rose to the highest level since early 2023, the Institute for Supply Management found in its survey of the service sector.

By Jim Tyson • May 5, 2025

Tariffs trigger pauses on some retail, industrial real estate deals

It’s too soon to know exactly how tariffs will impact commercial real estate. But some cracks are emerging in the U.S. retail and industrial sectors, CBRE’s Whitley Collins says.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 5, 2025

US hiring exceeds forecasts despite start of tariff barrage

Trump administration shifts in trade and other policies blur the outlook for future employment, according to economists at several organizations.

By Jim Tyson • May 2, 2025