Competitiveness and Climate Switzerland has dominated the Global Competitiveness Index over the past decade with Singapore and Northern European countries not far behind (see graph below). Assembled by the World Economic Forum, the index this year put the U.S. in the number one position for the first time since 2008. Some in the Trump administration may wish to take credit for this turnabout, but the outcome is because the index now incorporates a stronger dose of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, idea generation and other factors).
Separately, the International Energy Agency says that global greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2017 and are up again in the first nine months of this year. While P...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
