ITR Economics

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain from ITR Economics breaks down the current labor market conditions and what they mean for your business strategy. With just over one unemployed person per job opening, there’s slight slack in the market, but not for long.

Find out why the next 6 to 9 months may be your best window for hiring before tightening conditions and wage pressures hit hard. Taylor also covers workforce demographics, rising labor costs, and how AI and automation can help offset the people problem.

This week on TrendsTalk, ITR Economist Taylor St. Germain examines how soaring data center construction is fueling record-high electricity prices and what that means for your business. With U.S. electric power costs hitting new highs, companies face growing challenges tied to infrastructure strain and future energy policy changes.

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain breaks down where US exports and imports are growing, which countries are losing ground, and why the EU has emerged as the clear trade “winner” in 2025. Despite these changes, the US remains the top destination for foreign direct investment, a key driver for onshoring, reshoring, and long-term industrial growth. What will this mean for manufacturers and business leaders heading into 2026?

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain from ITR Economics unpacks the latest leading indicators for the US Industrial Economy. While growth is still on the horizon for 2026, several key indicators are moving sideways, signaling a milder rise than previous recovery cycles. What does this mean for capacity planning and business strategy? Tune in to learn why understanding not just the direction but also the amplitude of growth is critical for accurate forecasting and planning.

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain reviews the latest data showing manufacturing’s growth rate accelerating after a tough 2024. While some sectors like heavy-duty trucks, medical equipment, and light vehicle production remain under pressure, the outlook points to recovery in 2025 and broad-based growth by 2026. Will your business be ready to keep up with the pace of expansion?

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain from ITR Economics explains the concept of “profitless prosperity”, a future where businesses see revenue growth but shrinking profit margins due to rising costs. While economic growth is expected through 2028, inflation and cost pressures may limit profitability.

How can your business avoid this trap? Taylor outlines strategies for balancing pricing power with productivity and efficiency, and why developing a three-year plan is critical for protecting margins in an inflationary environment.

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain break down how different income brackets are handling rising costs in food, housing, and healthcare. While higher earners continue to see spending remain below historical averages, lower and middle-income households are facing mounting affordability challenges. What does this divide mean for consumer spending and long-term economic growth?

This week on TrendsTalk, Taylor St. Germain shares the latest housing market update. Single-family housing starts are in a slowdown now, but forecasts point to growth in 2026 and 2027. We review current mortgage rates, home prices, and how incomes are expected to outpace inflation. What do the latest trends mean for homebuyers, builders, and the real estate market outlook? Tune in to learn more!

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This week on TrendsTalk, we discuss where we are seeing some exciting growth happening in the US economy, with high-tech sectors such as data centers and semiconductors surging ahead while legacy industries remain flat. Which of these high-tech markets holds the biggest opportunities for your business? Tune in to find out!

Purchase the recording of our July Webinar “Contending With Uncertainty and Change” → https://hubs.la/Q03wX5Jk0

Contact us today to learn more about how you can benefit from Financial Resilience! → https://hubs.la/Q035Qlcs0

This week on TrendsTalk, we discuss the promising signs of near-term US economic growth, which include renewed momentum in industrial, manufacturing, and business investment. But with economic uncertainty still lingering, how can businesses best position themselves now to thrive when the economy soars? Tune in to find out.