Inflation holds steady, giving Fed room to leave main rate unchanged

Despite an increase in disposable income, personal consumption expenditures rose just 0.2% last month compared with a 0.4% gain in June.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 26, 2026

Consumer confidence wanes on dimming view of jobs, incomes, business

Most consumers expect higher inflation and anticipate that interest rates will rise in the next 12 months, The Conference Board said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 25, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from CFO Dive

To stay competitive many CFOs are focused on balancing AI’s risks and opportunities while also adjusting to fast-changing tariff policies and labor markets.

By CFO Dive staff

Intuit AI expert says future of finance is real-time, not monthly

The manual work that consumes half a finance team's week today should be “largely invisible” in five years, Intuit’s Ashley Still predicted.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 25, 2026

Costco fights customer’s tariff suit as refunds flow in

With Costco now recouping some IEEPA duties, the customer’s attorneys said one of the retailer’s primary legal arguments against member refunds had “evaporated.”

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 24, 2026

FTC settles anti-trust suit against Zillow, Redfin

Redfin committed to relaunch its listing service for apartment rentals no longer than six months after an FTC order is finalized.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 24, 2026

Firms may shrink healthcare plans to avoid 11.1% cost bump, WTW says

Companies are considering trimming their healthcare costs by restricting eligibility and having workers cover more out-of-pocket expenses, experts say. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 21, 2026

US business activity surges to 52-month high: S&P Global

Strong business investment and high equity prices will likely fuel 2.1% economic growth this year, Goldman Sachs said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 21, 2026

Economic growth signal rises for first time since 2022: Conference Board

Investment in artificial intelligence will likely drive economic growth, according to Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, The Conference Board’s senior manager for business cycle indicators.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 20, 2026

Many Fed officials flagged inflation threat, possible need to hike rates

“Recent labor demand and consumer spending data suggest that the economy is healthy enough for a rate hike,” Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 19, 2026

US manufacturing grows at steady pace, led by business equipment: Fed

Industrial production in July, while falling short of forecasts, aligned with expectations of slower but sustained economic growth.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 18, 2026

EY ties audit turnaround to tech, talent investments

The PCAOB’s 2025 inspection of EY found significant deficiencies in 5% of the audits it examined, down from 28% in 2024.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 18, 2026

Most consumers save no money as inflation erodes buying power: EY

The share of credit card balances delinquent for more than 90 days rose to 12.8% in the first quarter of this year from 7.6% in the third quarter of 2022, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 17, 2026

Retail sales fall 0.6% as consumers see inflation eroding buying power

Only 8% of consumers believe their incomes will grow faster than inflation in the current year, a 10 percentage point decline from December 2024, according to a University of Michigan survey.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 14, 2026

Cisco security revenue jumps 14% as agentic AI sharpens cyberattacks

AI agents are driving demand for cybersecurity tools as companies confront increasingly sophisticated threats, CEO Chuck Robbins said.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 13, 2026

AI drives spike in class action filings

A growing number of federal lawsuits involve AI development, data centers, and AI hardware or infrastructure matters, Cornerstone found.

By Danielle McLean • Aug. 13, 2026

Inflation dips, affirming Fed decision to keep interest rates steady

By the end of 2026 inflation will probably cool to 2.7% due to declining costs for transportation and healthcare, LPL Financial Chief Economist Jeffrey Roach said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 12, 2026

Chicago Mayor taps Fitch veteran for CFO

Ashlee Brianne Gabrysch was named Chicago’s next finance chief after a series of high profile financial leaders have abruptly exited City Hall. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 12, 2026

Ex-hedge fund CFO pleads guilty to $3M embezzlement scheme

The former finance chief used fake invoices and put unauthorized personal expenses on credit cards to steal money from his employer, prosecutors said.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 12, 2026

USA Swimming CFO placed on leave after arrest: reports

Cory Hilliard was charged Monday with misappropriating funds for his own personal use while working at University of Colorado Boulder between 2021 and 2025.   

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 11, 2026

Small business optimism rebounds to highest level since Aug. 2025: NFIB

Small businesses last month scaled back both actual and planned price increases for the first time this year, the National Federation of Independent Business said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 11, 2026

1 in 4 companies delay or cancel an AI project over cost

Rising volatility around AI costs is putting increased pressure on CFOs for financial discipline.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 11, 2026

‘Historic’ labor market shrinkage highlights need for AI: Brusuelas

A pullback from employment by workers age 65 and older may partly allay concerns that demand for artificial intelligence will fall short of a coming surge in supply.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 10, 2026

Former acting IRS head warns of tax compliance ‘race to the bottom’

The tax agency has faced steep budget cuts since Douglas O’Donnell stepped down from serving as acting commissioner in early 2025.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Aug. 7, 2026

Workers are all in fight-or-flight mode, expert says

Employers can improve mental health in the workplace by tuning into how workers are doing and being intentional, according to a consultant on health and productivity. 

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 5, 2026

How volunteer cyber experts are helping protect rural water systems

A first-in-the-nation program is yielding promising results as it charts a path for supporting the U.S.’s most vulnerable infrastructure.

By Eric Geller • Aug. 4, 2026