What is the biggest takeaway from the December Consumer Confidence Index® from The Conference Board? In short, the recent rebound in consumer confidence was not sustained in December, as consumers expressed discontent with inflation and future business conditions. 

Join Mitchell Barnes and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, for their full conversation about how consumer sentiment could weigh on US economic growth and what’s ahead for the labor market. 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Consumer Confidence Pulled Back in December 

• Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report 

For three years running, CEOs and CHROs have rated employee attraction and retention as a top internal priority. How can employers optimize their total rewards programs to attract top talent while meeting business goals? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Rita Meyerson, EdD, principal researcher for human capital at The Conference Board, to discover the many elements of total rewards, why employee recognition can enhance engagement, and how leaders should think about total rewards strategy. 

(00:45) Defining Total Rewards (01:35) Components of Total Rewards (02:07) Importance of Attraction and Retention (05:50) Role of Flexibility in Total Rewards (09:14) Recognition as a Key Reward (15:20) Integrating Culture with Total Rewards (20:00) Diversity and Changing Workforce Needs (25:47) Leadership's Role in Total Rewards

For more from The Conference Board: 

• The Paramount Value of Total Rewards: Forward Strategies for CEOs and CHROs 

• The Evolving Total Rewards Landscape: Tactics to Attract and Retain Talent 

• US Salary Increase Budgets 2024-2025 

The price of bitcoin recently hit $88,000, yet it remains a speculative currency with few present-day commercial uses. Why is bitcoin so compelling to certain investors, and what is its potential for everyday use?  

Join Steve Odland and guest Hollis Hart, former president of international franchise management at Citi and a senior fellow at The Conference Board's ESF Center, to learn why there’s a finite amount of bitcoin available, the differences between bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and how governments have responded to this new technology.  

(00:22) Introduction to Cryptocurrencies (02:15) Bitcoin's Mechanics and Decentralization (05:26) Bitcoin's Supply and Market Dynamics (07:13) Commercial Use and Speculation (15:48) Ethereum and Other Cryptocurrencies (20:30) Blockchain Technology and Its Potential (27:25) Regulatory Concerns and Conclusion

President-elect Donald Trump is already breaking norms with his unusual transition process. What will be his domestic priorities in 2025, and how much can he get done without Congress?  

Join Steve Odland and guest John Gardner, vice president of public policy at the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, to find out what to expect for the federal budget, immigration enforcement, and tariff and tax policies.  

(00:45) Transition Challenges for the New Administration (02:57) Key Domestic Policy Priorities (04:56) Tax Policy and Legislative Strategy (08:33) Tariffs and Trade Policy (10:13) Immigration and Border Control (13:08) Energy Policy and Environmental Regulations (16:11) Geopolitical Tensions: Russia and Ukraine (18:28) Geopolitical Tensions: China and Taiwan (23:41) Judicial Appointments and Conclusion

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Election, Transition, and Early Actions of the New Administration 

• 2024 Election Implications for the US Labor Market 

• The Future of Greening and Industrial Policies Post Election 

Consumer optimism is up again in November, according to the latestConsumer Confidence Index® fromThe Conference Board.Amid growing optimism over the labor market and a stock market rally, the consumer confidence index increased to 111.7 this month from 109.6 in October. 

Join Erin McLaughlin and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, to find out what consumers are optimistic about, what concerns they have, and how they’re planning to spend in the next month. 

(00:38) Key Takeaways from the Latest Survey (01:25) Demographic Insights and Economic Drivers (03:11) Consumer Expectations and Recession Fears (03:35) Inflation, Interest Rates, and Stock Market Outlook (08:13) Spending Trends on Goods and Services (11:00) Concerns and Hopes for 2025 (14:31) Global Economic Outlook for 2024 and 2025 (16:37) Policy Impacts and Business Advice

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Consumer Confidence Improved Again in November 

• Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report 

No poll is perfect, but this year’s pollsters did better than average in predicting the presidential race, especially in swing states. What lessons can we learn, and why do pollsters need to tell the right story, not just get the right numbers? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Clifford Young, President of Ipsos Public Affairs in the United States, to find out lessons learned from the 2024 cycle, the differences between public and private polling, and how pollsters find people to interview. 

(00:40) Accuracy of Election Polls (02:06) Expectations vs. Reality in Polling (03:29) Methodological Bias in Polling (07:28) Senate and House Race Polling (10:18) Impact of Third-Party Candidates (14:02) Private vs. Public Polling (22:15) Polling Methodologies and Voter Rolls (26:13) International Polling Perspectives

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Election, Transition, and Early Actions of the New Administration 

• Election Has No Effect on Fed Policy Now, But Possibly Later 

• Impact of Delayed Vote Counts on Election Day 

Can COP29 be a turning point in the fight to reduce emissions and cap warming? 

The US has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 17% since 2004, and yet the US and world are falling short on limiting global temperature rise and establishing a net-zero economy. What kind of progress can we expect to emerge from this year’s UN climate conference, COP29?   

Join Steve Odland and guest Alex Heil, Senior Economist at The Conference Board's ESF Center, to find out why COP29 was hosted by Azerbaijan, whether developed economics will fund the necessary climate actions, and the role of the power sector in decarbonizing. 

(00:49) Understanding COP and Its History (04:11) Focus on Finance at COP 29 (07:35) Geopolitical Context of COP 29 (09:42) Absence of Key Leaders (11:21) Paris Accord and National Contributions (16:00) Carbon Credits and Financial Support

For more from The Conference Board: 

• The Future of Greening and Industrial Policies Post Election 

• Hitting the Reset Button on ESG: Setting Strategy in a Time of Uncertainty 

• Window On: The Future of Methane 

The average CEO’s tenure is declining, especially at smaller companies. How can boards reassess their approach to CEO succession planning given the increasing complexities of the job and the rise in activist stakeholders? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Blair Jones, Managing Director at Semler Brossy, to discover the latest insights on CEO succession, the progress being made on gender equity, and why boards should have an emergency succession plan before a crisis strikes. 

(01:20) CEO Tenure Trends (05:11) Internal vs External Succession (07:55) Gender Diversity in CEO Roles (13:43) Emergency Succession Planning (19:45) Interim CEO and Board Roles (25:03) Activist Attacks on Female CEOs (28:40) Trends in CEO Compensation

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2024 Edition 

• Reworking Succession Management Strategies for Today's Leaders 

• US Public Company CEOs Are Getting Younger 

DEI isn't dead, but senior executives are recognizing the need to reevaluate these programs. 

Despite the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), 80% of senior executives say they’ll adjust their DEI strategies rather than scale them back. How can businesses create effective DEI programs that align with core values and follow the law? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, to find out how companies can rethink DEI, measure the success of these initiatives, and achieve better outcomes for all employees. 

(00:52) Defining DEI and Its Objectives  (02:00) Supreme Court Ruling and Its Impact  (04:44) Adjusting DEI Tactics  (11:23) Strategic Changes in DEI Programs (18:52) Data-Driven DEI Decisions  (25:25) Future of DEI in a Diverse Society

For more from The Conference Board: 

• For Corporate DEI, Elections Sometimes Have Consequences 

• DEI Under Pressure 

• Beyond Backlash: The Continued Benefits of DEI at Work 

CEO pay isn’t just salary: There’s also bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and perks. What does the latest report on executive compensation from The Conference Board tell us about pay trends — and the boards that set compensation levels? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Etra, managing director and head of the Boston office at FW Cook, to dispel public misconceptions about CEO pay, discuss the latest trends and regulations, and explain why corporate jets are suddenly so popular. 

(01:14) Understanding CEO Compensation (04:08) Market Dynamics and Executive Pay (06:22) Components of Executive Compensation (07:32) Evolution of Compensation Practices (14:12) The Role of Independent Directors (17:48) Trends in Non-Financial Metrics (19:04) Perks and Pay Ratios

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO and Executive Compensation Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500 

• Compensation Committee Chairs Feel the Pain from Low Say-on-Pay Votes 

• Executive Compensation: 2025 Event