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Facing easing inflation and policy uncertainty, corporate pricing strategies in 2025 will shift toward being proactive. Adam Echter proposes four recommendations: strengthening internal and external value communication, being cautious with price cuts, avoiding excessive concessions, and seeking low-cost, high-perceived-value additions.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that initial jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 211,000 in the week ending in late 2024, hitting an eight-month low, indicating the labor market has remained stable after showing signs of weakness mid-year. This data reinforces Federal Reserve officials' forecasts from last month that the pace of rate cuts may slow in 2025. Market expectations for the Fed to hold rates steady at its January 29 meeting have risen from 57% to 89%.
The 'State of Sustainability Careers 2024' report by research institution Trellis (formerly GreenBiz) indicates that sustainability officers at large enterprises must balance innovation and compliance while addressing new regulations and reporting requirements. The survey shows that 74% of respondents reported increased team headcount, but budget growth slowed (54% in 2023 vs. 74% in 2022), and the proportion of CEOs with 'high engagement' dropped by 9 percentage points. The report describes the profession as being at a 'crossroads' and explores heightened regulation, the rise of the ESG controller role, and the phenomenon of 'greenhushing.'
Intel shareholder LR Trust filed a derivative lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeking a court order requiring former CEO Pat Gelsinger, current CFO and co-interim CEO David Zinsner, and other company leaders to return "all profits, benefits, and other compensation" obtained through breaches of fiduciary and contractual duties. The lawsuit alleges that these executives engaged in misleading financial disclosures related to the foundry business, exposing the company to significant legal liability and reputational damage.
The latest report from the Financial Education and Research Foundation shows that the average audit fee for listed companies in 2023 increased by 6.4% year-over-year, reaching $3.01 million. The report points out that internal control changes, M&A activity, and key personnel turnover are the main drivers of increased audit workload. Looking ahead, with the implementation of new FASB and PCAOB rules, audit fees are expected to climb further.
Following its December policy meeting, the Federal Reserve announced a 25-basis-point rate cut, adjusting the federal funds rate target range to 4.25%-4.5%. The latest economic projections show that officials expect the median rate to be 3.9% by the end of 2025, up 50 basis points from the September forecast, suggesting a potentially slower pace of easing ahead.
Legal analysts note that in the first year of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) implementing its "material" cybersecurity breach disclosure rule, most public filings have been vague and of limited value to investors. With Trump returning to the White House and Paul Atkins nominated to succeed as SEC chair, the rule faces the risk of being repealed or scaled back.
MassMutual's first female CFO, Betsy Ward, will retire at the end of this month, concluding a 30-year career at the company. During her tenure, she led the modernization of financial processes, promoting automation and data visualization applications. In a recent interview, she looked back on her atypical path from actuary to CFO and shared insights on women finding their voice and making choices in the workplace.
The holiday season is not always "the most wonderful time of the year" for human resources departments. Jonathan Segal, a partner at the law firm Duane Morris, noted in a recent online event that company holiday parties, gift-giving, bonus calculations, and decorations all harbor compliance risks. This article outlines four common pitfalls and strategies for employers to address them.
Costco CFO Gary Millerchip revealed on the first-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings call that, in response to anticipated tariff policies, the company will take measures such as purchasing inventory ahead of time, collaborating with suppliers to control costs, seeking alternative sources, and adjusting product assortments. He acknowledged that tariffs create cost pressures but believes competitors face similar challenges. Additionally, the company observed a trend in consumer food spending shifting from dining out to eating at home, with holiday spending leaning toward essential categories.