The Decisive Podcast: Insights and analysis to empower confident decision-making.

Droughts and flood events in recent years have highlighted the importance of water as a strategic global resource. Climate change will impact access to water and force many countries to modify how they manage resources, according to a new report from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The prevalence of severe difficulties to predict weather patterns is likely to continue across the globe affecting populations, countries' economic performances and key industries that rely on water as an essential resource. The El Niño climate pattern is forecast to significantly impact the world in 2024. Water-related stress, however, will be an issue for many years to come in many parts of the world.

How will governments and businesses respond to water stress? And which industries are most likely to be affected?

Access the 2024 Big Picture report here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/campaigns/the-big-picture-industry-outlook

Featured S&P Global Market Intelligence experts:

Veronica Retamales Burford, Senior Research Analyst, Latin America Country Risk

Will Farmer, Senior Research Analyst, Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk

Explore our library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

Our Purchasing Managers' Index team discusses key 2023 themes through the lens of economies in the Americas. The economists see quite a subdued picture in Canada from their latest survey results. Firms are concerned about high interest rates and how they may squeeze clients' budgets. The newly launched PMI for the Canadian service sector, which covers private sector services accounting for about half of the country's GDP, offers additional insights into business activity, new orders, employment and more. In the US, sentiment has picked up from the previous survey, and that confidence is flowing into expectations around employment and investment. Companies remain wary that inflation could rise again. In Brazil, the central bank is cutting rates after aggressively raising them in 2022 to combat inflation. The economy has managed to grow throughout 2023, with services doing most of the heavy lifting. Discover more PMI insights here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/pmi.html

Featured experts:

Paul Smith, Director, Economic Indices, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/smith-paul.html Andrew Harker, Director, Economic Indicators & Surveys, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/harker-andrew.html Pollyanna De Lima, Associate Director, Economic Indices, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/de-lima-pollyanna.html Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

Inflation was the economic bogeyman of 2022. Some Central European central banks believe they've banished the bogeyman and are cutting or preparing to cut interest rates.

The story in neighboring Russia and Turkey is different, with central banks there making defensive moves to shore up the countries' currencies.

What is driving inflation trends in these economies? And where are rates there heading?

Featured experts:

Andy Birch, associate director, Europe & CIS economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/birch-andrew.html Lilit Gevorgyan, associate director, Europe & CIS economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence| https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/gevorgyan-lilit.html Shuchita Shukla, senior economist, Europe & CIS economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/shukla-shuchita.html

We share our outlook for commercial and residential construction in Europe. We expect nonresidential structure spending to decline across the region. The speed and intensity of the correction in the eurozone housing market will vary by country.

What is driving our outlook in these markets? What headwinds are these markets facing, and when are they likely to ease?

Featured experts:

Amandeep Bahra, senior economist, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Anja Heimann, senior Europe economist, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/heimann-anja.html

Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

In this episode, we share an excerpt from our recent webinar exploring our latest global construction outlook. Our expert discusses the global economic drivers of construction markets, highlight changes in our forecast, and pinpoint areas of strength and weakness.

Featured expert:

Jeannine Cataldi, associate director, Global Construction Group, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/cataldi-jeannine.html

Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

Political change is coming to South and Southeast Asia. Elections have concluded this year in the Maldives and Thailand, and are scheduled to take place in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia in the next year. With these elections comes the potential for sweeping policy changes and government instability. What forces will shape this new political order? Where are we likely to see the greatest shift in policy direction? And how will these new governments interact with their neighbors and the wider world? Featured experts: Aries Poon, Head of Asia Pacific Insights and Analysis, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/contributors/1446418/aries-poon Deepa Kumar, Head of Asia Pacific Country Risk, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/kumar-deepa.html Hannah Cotillon, Senior South Asia Country Risk Analyst, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/cotillon-hannah.html Anton Alifandi, Lead ASEAN Country Risk Analyst, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/alifandi-anton.html Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/ Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

Our forecast for US holiday sales is looking "delightfully average," according to Michael Zdinak, director, US economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence. Consumer spending has shown resilience to tightening financial conditions, thanks to a strong labor market and rising wages. Banks, meanwhile, are eyeing deposit levels and delinquencies as interest rates have crept higher and inflation persists. Delinquencies are rising — but from historically low rates, said Nathan Stovall, director of financial institutions research at S&P Global Market Intelligence and host of the Street Talk podcast. Listen to Michael and Nathan talk about how the outlook for US holiday spending is likely to impact banks, retailers, the economy, and the Fed's next move. Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/ Featured experts: Michael Zdinak, director, US economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence Nathan Stovall, director of financial institutions research, S&P Global Market Intelligence

The supply chain story of 2023 so far has been one of normalization. Demand has slowed down with U. S. seaborne imports of consumer goods falling in the first eight months of the year. The seasonality of shipping patterns also appears to be returning to normal and global trade activity is likely to stabilize.

But as ever, we see risks on the horizon. Trade policies are becoming more restrictive and sustainability policies are starting to have real consequences for supply chains. Water stress and labor action also threaten supply chain stability.

What is driving the return to normal in supply chains? What strategies are companies exploring to build resilience?

Featured expert:

Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/rogers-chris.html

Russia's economy seemed to show remarkable resilience in the face of waves of sanctions that followed its invasion of Ukraine. But recently the bank of Russia had to take steps to shore up a weakening ruble.

Are the sanctions finally biting? And how much of a bite would it take to get Russia to the negotiating table?

We discuss what has supported Russia's economy during wartime, shifts in trade routes, currency effects, and our near-term outlook.

Featured expert:

Lilit Gevorgyan, Associate Director, Europe and CIS Economics, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/gevorgyan-lilit.html Explore our full library of S&P Global Market Intelligence podcasts here: https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/podcasts/

The US market for home improvement was at an all-time high during the pandemic when many people were forced to live, work, and educate their children under the same roof. That demand disrupted supply chains for labor and materials and drove price inflation for lumber and other goods. This year the market looks different, thanks to higher interest rates on home improvement loans, reduced availability of homes to buy, and new incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. Find out how the pro and DIY segments are faring and learn what energy-saving projects homeowners are likely to prioritize in 2023 and beyond. Featured expert:

Scott Hazelton, director, consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/experts/index.html