In its most recent Connect and Reflect report, “Why Company Directors Should Use Social Media,” The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) describes the benefits of social media for directors and offers practical guidance about how to make a start.

Mark Cushing, founder and CEO of the Animal Policy Group, talks with our Marketing Institute Leader, JP Kuehlwein, about his new book, which reveals how pets – and their owners – are transforming the American culture, economy and nation.

Consumer Confidence declined for the second consecutive month and now stands at 84.8 down from 91.7 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased sharply, while pessimism about the short-term outlook continued to grow. Concerns amongst consumers about the economic outlook and their financial well-being will likely cause spending to cool in the months ahead.

One of the categories that experiences the largest decline in a typical recession is consumer spending on goods. The US is now enduring the worst recession in 80 years: Employment in July was about 13 million below February’s number while GDP dropped by 11 percent in the first half of 2020. Yet in June, consumer spending on goods was 5 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels. Why?

Margaret Murphy, Digital Media Programme Manager at the Conference Board, interviews our resident Senior Economist for Europe, Ilaria Maselli about the consumer confidence results in Europe for Q2.

Tim Koller, Partner and Core Leader of the Corporate Finance Practice at McKinsey & Company, explores with our Marketing Institute Leader, JP Kuehlwein, why there is often a deep disparity in corporate valuations between Wall Street and Main Street – and how to make sense of it all.

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.

How does one craft the right name for a brand or business? Should one evolve and extend it over time? David Placek, Founder and President of Lexicon, boasts over 30 years’ experience in the naming business. Join David as he speaks with our Marketing Institute Leader, JP Kuehlwein, to answer these questions and describe how naming and language relates to other important branding elements, such as design, visual identity, and communications.

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.

The economic shock from the COVID-19 pandemic has sent unemployment rates to levels not seen since the Great Depression. In response, Congress enacted—on a temporary basis—one of the largest expansions of unemployment benefits in US history. With the expiration of some of those changes approaching, Michele Evermore, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Election Law Project joins to discuss changes in unemployment benefits over time, the pandemic response, and the decisions policymakers face