Large declines were experienced in Michigan, Florida, Texas and California, a result of the resurgence of COVID-19. Looking ahead, consumers have grown less optimistic about the short-term outlook for the economy and labor market and remain subdued about their financial prospects. Such uncertainty about the short-term future does not bode well for the recovery, nor for consumer spending.

João Paulo Ferreira the CEO Latin America of Natura describes how the company is exploring different aspects of Natura’s 2030 sustainability vision. This podcast looks at how these ambitions are turned into activities and measurements of impact.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index sees its biggest rise this month since 2011, yet still remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The index reveals consumers are less pessimistic about the short-term outlook, but fear an uneven and uncertain economic recovery amid virus concerns. Join Chief Economist Bart van Ark, and Senior Director of Economic Indicators, Lynn Franco, as they discuss the monthly numbers.

As of May 4, 42 percent of the total French workforce was either fully or partially unemployed, representing 12 percent of total annual hours worked and with an output equivalent of 11 percent of annual GDP. Half of that GDP loss is associated with just three industries: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and construction.

This blog is based on the April 22, 2020 webcast How COVID-19 Might Impact Consumers’ Attitudes about Sustainability, hosted by The Conference Board. Some responses have been edited and condensed for this format. To view the entirety of the webinar or download the presentation click here.

One of the striking features of COVID-19 is that it appears to be much more dangerous for older people than for younger people. As a result, older people are more likely to stay at home and avoid having other people enter their home. As older Americans will experience a longer and more extreme social distancing, they are likely to cut back on spending more than younger people.

Michael Sussman, Ph.D. and CEO of the BAV Group and Sandrine Martin, Analytical Brand Strategist of the BAV Group joined JP Kuehlwein of The Conference Board to discuss how one can assess the “strength of a brand’s equity across time, categories, geographies, social media, and in people’s minds.”