Hiring rebounds with 178,000 new jobs, unemployment dips to 4.3%

Even with a big gain in payrolls last month, several unusual forces are jolting the labor market and prompting companies to take a low-hire, low-fire approach to headcount.

By Jim Tyson • April 3, 2026

Economists see Iran war spurring inflation, slowing GDP growth: NABE

A “broadening of geopolitical conflicts” poses the biggest risk to the economy, according to 69% of respondents to a National Association for Business Economics survey.

By Jim Tyson • April 2, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Navigating risk in turbulent times

CFOs must help their organizations mitigate risks by balancing the need for both growth and stability. 

By CFO Dive staff

Manufacturing expands as ‘big leap’ puts prices at post-2022 high: ISM

“Geopolitical tensions related to the conflict in Iran are contributing to rising manufacturing supply costs,” an executive at a chemical maker said.

By Jim Tyson • April 1, 2026

Cybersecurity is increasingly a CFO problem: Microsoft

It’s now a “financial leadership challenge shaped by regulation, AI acceleration, and rising expectations from boards and investors,” the tech giant said.

By Alexei Alexis • April 1, 2026

Consumer confidence inches up despite Iran war, rising gas price

A Conference Board survey aligns with recent reports showing a jump in consumer expectations for short-term inflation.

By Jim Tyson • March 31, 2026

Nearly half of firms willing to pay 11% to 15% premium for AI skills

The urgency is growing as deployment of AI agents reaches a tipping point, a KPMG survey found.

By Alexei Alexis • March 31, 2026

Federal AI legislation faces ‘very bleak’ prospects

Political gridlock and federal-state tensions make nationwide AI legislation unlikely in 2026, leaving companies to navigate a patchwork of rules, attorneys say.

By Alexei Alexis • March 31, 2026

What CFOs should know about liability management exercises

LMEs are emerging as an alternative to more costly bankruptcies, PwC’s Steven Fleming said. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 30, 2026

Stable inflation expectations enable Fed to hold rates steady: Powell

“Inflation expectations do appear to be well anchored beyond the short term,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told economics students at Harvard University.

By Jim Tyson • March 30, 2026

Consumer sentiment falls 6%, hit by declining stocks, higher gas prices

Household expectations for inflation in 12 months rose to 3.8% from 3.4% in February in the biggest one-month gain since April 2025, the University of Michigan found in a survey.

By Jim Tyson • March 27, 2026

Deal insurance gets pricier after years of decline: Marsh

The pricing shift comes amid a rebound in M&A and increased claims activity, according to the research.

By Alexei Alexis • March 27, 2026

Inflation will surge to 4.2% as Iran war pushes up energy costs: OECD

The OECD expectation for higher inflation differs from an optimistic forecast by Fed officials last week.

By Jim Tyson • March 26, 2026

FTC settles with AI startup accused of bilking customers

The action highlights increased enforcement activity targeting “AI washing,” where vendors are accused of making false or exaggerated product claims.

By Alexei Alexis • March 26, 2026

CFO uncertainty rises more than any other top concern during Q1

In a sign of uncertainty, financial market volatility has flared this month, with the Cboe Volatility Index hitting the highest level since the imposition of sweeping U.S. tariffs last April.

By Jim Tyson • March 25, 2026

Business growth slows to 11-month low as Iran war triggers price spike

“Companies are reporting a hit to demand from the additional uncertainty and cost of living impact generated by the conflict,” according to an S&P Global economist.

By Jim Tyson • March 24, 2026

Hormuz Strait blockade would slow Q2 economy at 2.9 pp annual rate

Factors such as higher insurance rates “could cause the oil price increase to be more substantial than our model suggests,” Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas economists said.

By Jim Tyson • March 23, 2026

FASB accounting support fees shrink 11%

This year companies are on track to pay less in accounting support fees for the Financial Accounting Standards Board than they did in 2025.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 23, 2026

White House calls for ‘minimally burdensome’ federal AI rules

The administration urged Congress to avoid creating new federal rule-making bodies for AI and instead lean on existing agencies and industry-led standards.

By Alexei Alexis • March 20, 2026

Jobless claims fall to two-month low as lull in layoffs, hiring persists

Unemployment will likely hold steady at 4.4% throughout this year, according to a median estimate by Federal Reserve officials released Wednesday.

By Jim Tyson • March 19, 2026

Sen. Blackburn releases draft of sweeping AI proposal

The Republican’s comprehensive draft bill calls for reporting of AI-related job impacts, with stiff penalties for covered entities that fail to comply. 

By Alexei Alexis • March 19, 2026

CFOs turn to AI for pricing as affordability concerns rise

Almost three-fourths of finance chiefs say affordability concerns have affected their pricing strategies, Grant Thornton found.

By Alexei Alexis • March 18, 2026

Fed holds rates steady, flags uncertainty as oil price soars amid war

The Fed faces a policy dilemma as the Iran war spurs a jump in energy prices, threatening to increase inflation, slow economic growth and push up unemployment.

By Jim Tyson • Updated March 18, 2026

Top tech, HR executives gain in pay, prominence: Conference Board

While executives leading the rush into AI and related technologies enjoy pay increases, lower-level employees may see their compensation lag or even fall.

By Jim Tyson • March 17, 2026

AI boom drives worker compensation cuts, study finds

Both jobs and paychecks are taking a hit as companies ramp up AI spending to avoid falling behind competitors, according to the research.

By Alexei Alexis • March 17, 2026

GenAI gains ground in M&A, but post-deal adoption lags

The technology is helping companies streamline pre-deal work such as market research and due diligence, an Accenture survey found.

By Alexei Alexis • March 17, 2026