Behind The Lines

Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2019, we're showcasing our most recent webinar, which was recorded in mid-December, hosted by podcast standby Kieran Newton and led by senior IBISWorld analysts Rob Miles and Viraj D'Costa. The trio investigated the US economy's current macro-level trends, the still-significant impact of the 07-09 recession, and what the next economic downturn may look like. 

We had a different recording setup for this episode - apologies for the differing audio quality. We'll be back with a proper episode of the IBISWorld podcast on January 23rd - see you then!

Not all disruptions are successful. In our final episode of 2018, IBISWorld editor Sean Egan and analyst Maks Soshkin return to the delivery and logistics sector, this time focusing on trucking with the help of analyst Dan Cook. The trio investigate the problems facing the trucking industry, why Uber has had trouble breaking in, and the potentially drastic changes on the horizon.

There is a Toys 'R' Us-shaped hole in 2018's holiday toy market, for the first time in decades. To investigate where people are getting toys and how retailers are picking up the slack, IBISWorld editor Vicky Wolak talks with analysts Claire O'Connor and Chris Lombardo. The team discusses what killed the stalwart industry giant and the tactics smaller retailers are using to battle against the ever-growing threat of e-commerce and big-box retailers.

With more legalization victories in the recent US midterm elections and Canada's new nationwide legalization, the business of marijuana in North America is off to the races. In this episode, IBISWorld editor Sean Egan and  industry analysts Kelsey Oliver and Ediz Ozelkan discuss the state of the international cannabis industry, how Canada is poised for growth, and the powerhouse potential of Mexico. As its neighbors work to enact widespread legalization, will the United States and its cannabis producers be left in the dust?

There's a huge discrepancy between who we think plays video games and the actual demographics, and at a certain point, that's bad for business. In the final episode of our Game Changers limited series, IBISWorld analyst Jon Hadad and editor Kieran Newton break down the passionate, often-insular gaming community and its already-massive and still-growing importance for industry operators and investors.

This concludes the Game Changers series! If you missed parts 1-3, catch up now with episodes 26, 28, and 30 of the IBISWorld podcast. Thanks for tuning in!

The fastest-growing segment of the video game industry has nothing to do with playing them. Game streaming on sites like Twitch and the subsequent rise of e-sports, competitive games played professionally, is attracting millions of dollars of investment and is on track to generate more than $1.0 billion in revenue next year. In episode 3 of the IBISWorld podcast's Game Changers limited series, editor Kieran Newton and analyst Jon Hadad break down how this happened, why people are watching, and whether traditional sports should feel threatened.

After more than a year of deliberation, NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) has been renegotiated, with a new bill set to be ratified by the legislatures of the member nations. This week on the IBISWorld podcast, analysts Devin McGinley and Anna Amir and editor Sean Egan break down how the agreement will change, the reasons these negotiations happened in the first place, and what this means for Mexico, Canada, and the United States moving forward.

For the second episode in the IBISWorld podcast's Game Changers series, examining the convoluted video games industry, analyst Jon Hadad and editor Kieran Newton return to discuss the breakthroughs, setbacks and widespread impact of the games industry's technological pursuits. We discuss what happened to 3D, the viability of VR, and what the industry is chasing next.

Next time on Game Changers, we'll be discussing the new games-as-entertainment industry of streamers and e-sports. Stay tuned!

It's been a tumultuous time for the Agriculture sector. Tariffs on agricultural goods are ratcheting up the burgeoning trade war, and a new Farm Bill needs to be passed by the end of the month to keep US farms afloat. To analyze the state of agriculture, editor Sean Egan sat down with IBISWorld analysts John Madigan and Jack Curran, looking at how the sector got here and what's on the horizon.

In this week's IBISWorld podcast, editor Kieran Newton and analyst Jon Hadad open up our new limited series on the rapidly evolving world of video games by investigating the industry's biggest rivalry, between the manufacturers of the consoles themselves: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Marketing narratives, the rise of mobile games, and breakout hits like Fortnite are forcing these companies to adapt and innovate like never before.

This is only Part 1 of Game Changers - next time, we'll look at the industry's perennial pursuit of new technology. Stay tuned!