Consumer spending inches up, reflecting gloomy inflation sentiments

Economists have voiced concern that a surge in energy prices since the start of the Iran war will fuel inflation and slow household outlays.

By Jim Tyson • April 9, 2026

Super Micro launches new probe after co-founder’s indictment

The San Jose, California-based AI server maker, which was not named as a defendant in the indictment, has set no time-table for its independent investigation.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • April 8, 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

SEC taps Gibson Dunn partner, former agency official to lead enforcement

The newly appointed enforcement director in 2023 criticized the approach to securities law by former SEC Chair Gary Gensler as “brash” and “regulation by enforcement.”

By Jim Tyson • April 8, 2026

Consumer inflation expectations jump amid Iran war price pressure

Energy prices rose Tuesday as President Donald Trump threatened to eliminate Iranian civilization if Tehran fails to open the Strait of Hormuz and meet other demands.

By Jim Tyson • April 7, 2026

OpenAI urges tax policy rethink as AI heralds new economic era

The company floated a range of ideas, including levies on automated labor, to address growing concerns about the economic and societal impacts of AI.

By Alexei Alexis • April 7, 2026

Former ADM CFO denies SEC’s accounting fraud allegations

The filing provides the first glimpse of the legal defense that Archer-Daniels-Midland’s ex-CFO Vikram Luthar will likely mount in the case.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • April 6, 2026

Services sector slows as Iran war fuels inflation: ISM survey

The Iran war creates “the potential for significant ongoing” oil shocks, persistent inflation and higher-than-expected interest rates, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said.

By Jim Tyson • April 6, 2026

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

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