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

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

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

Resilience ties 85% of cyber insurance losses to human error

“Attackers have used AI to sharpen social engineering across the board, from emails to voice deepfakes,” the cyber risk firm said.

By Alexei Alexis • Aug. 4, 2026

US lawmaker calls for AI hearings after Anthropic, OpenAI incidents

“We can’t run AI safety on the honor system,” said Rep. Lori Trahan, a Massachusetts Democrat who is pushing legislation to rein in AI developers.

By Alexei Alexis • July 31, 2026

Grant Thornton Advisors, CBIZ agree to combine in $5B deal

The deal would result in Grant Thornton Advisors becoming the fifth-largest professional services, tax and advisory firm in the U.S., the company said.

By Alexei Alexis • July 29, 2026

US business activity, confidence surge to 8-month high: S&P Global

While U.S. exports fell this month, July 4 celebrations and the World Cup competition spurred domestic demand, S&P Global said.

By Jim Tyson • July 24, 2026

DOJ moves to speed up merger probes

The revived approach is the latest step in the Trump administration’s effort to reduce regulatory burdens for dealmakers.

By Alexei Alexis • July 24, 2026

Most corporate boards lack rules for AI use: Deloitte survey

AI “use for board-level purposes seems to be comparatively new, uneven and still maturing,” Deloitte said.

By Jim Tyson • July 23, 2026

Lawmakers push AI ‘kill switch’ bill as OpenAI breach sparks alarms

The bipartisan proposal comes on the heels of OpenAI disclosing that certain AI models it developed were behind an “unprecedented cyber incident.”

By Alexei Alexis • July 23, 2026

Nearly 7 in 10 firms report AI cost overruns

Hidden costs and poor governance are complicating efforts to keep enterprise AI spending on track, according to the study.

By Alexei Alexis • July 22, 2026

Rogue AI poses 10% odds of ‘catastrophic harm’ by 2030: MIT study

AI within five years may be used for mass deception, weapons development, public manipulation, political abuse and cyberattacks, according to an MIT study.

By Jim Tyson • July 22, 2026

Accounting’s next challenge: Guarding what AI can’t replace

“With the industry’s adoption of AI, the judgment-building work doesn't disappear,” writes Trullion CEO Artie Minson.

By Artie Minson • July 21, 2026

92% of CFOs, top finance staff feel pressure to show ROI from AI: survey

Half of survey respondents said their AI agents have yielded only limited measurable ROI, according to Avalara.

By Jim Tyson • July 21, 2026

EY hit with proposed class action over data breach

The lawsuit alleges the firm failed to protect sensitive tax and financial information exposed through an IT support platform.

By Alexei Alexis • July 21, 2026