World Perspectives

Macro Economic Data: Positive but Volatile

Growth in retail sales lost some momentum in September, capping off what otherwise had been a solid quarter of spending for U.S. consumers. Looking at the headline, overall sales rose 0.2 percent in September – the fourth consecutive monthly increase – but lagged the consensus expected gain of 0.4 percent. Sales rose in eight out of the thirteen major categories for the month, led by a 2 percent jump at gasoline stations. The biggest drag came from internet and mail-order retailers, where sales declined 0.7 percent in September after a strong 1.6 percent increase in August. Combined with declines at clothing stores (down 0.7 percent) and sporting goods retailers (down 2.5 percent), the pullback likely reflects a return to more t...

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Grassley and Smith Introduce Meat Industry Consolidation Bill

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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