COVID II Policy Financial markets continue to be confused about the direction of the economy amidst a new surge in COVID cases and political uncertainty. The U.S. jobless claims report this morning was lower than expected while September existing home sales were strong. But the job market is decelerating, and a second stimulus package is stuck until after the election. Some complain that the stimulus helps Wall Street but not Main Street so much. This may be why a survey of European small and medium-sized business revealed over half feared bankruptcy if shutdown orders continue. As a share of GDP, Canada has spent more on stimulus than the rest of the G20, yet its unemployment rate remains the highest amongst the G7. Governments took a ha...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
From WPI Consulting
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.