Matt Ott

Associated Press

4 CFOs Who Are Doing it Right

4 CFOs Who Are Doing it Right

Successful CFOs don't have super powers, just powerful new tools, like self-driving software and blockchain. This white paper discusses the new tools and provides four CFOs who are using them to their fullest potential.

In this Nov. 4, 2019 file photo, John Deere tractors made by Deere & Company are shown as they are readied for export to Asia at the Port of Tacoma in Tacoma, Wash. The U.S. trade deficit fell in September 2020 after hitting a 14-year high in August as exports outpaced imports. The Commerce Department reported, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, the gap between what the U.S. sells and what it buys abroad fell to 63.9 billion in September, a decline of 4.7% from a $67 billion deficit in August.

US Trade Deficit Falls to $63.9B in September

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit has jumped $38.5 billion, or 8.6%.

In this Nov. 26, 2019, file photo a man carries a television while shopping ahead of Black Friday at a Best Buy in Henderson, Nev. On Monday, Dec. 23, the Commerce Department releases its November report on durable goods.

Durable Goods Falls 2%

Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods fell by the largest amount in six months.

In this Nov. 4, 2019, file photo John Deere tractors made by Deere & Company are shown as they are readied for export to Asia at the Port of Tacoma in Tacoma, WA Deere & Co. reports earns on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Unease on the Farm Dims Deere's 2020 Outlook

The company on Wednesday cited uncertainty from trade wars and other issues that have led farmers to pull back on machinery purchases.

In this Nov. 9 file photo, a woman looks through holiday wreaths on sale at a retail store during in Pembroke Pines, FL.

Consumer Confidence Still High Despite Nov. Decline

Consumers’ feelings about the present economic conditions also regressed slightly, but their short-term expectations for the future rose.

In this Nov. 4 photo, barista Porter Hahn makes an iced coffee drink for a customer in a coffee shop in Seattle.

US Services Companies Growth Rebounds in Oct.

The service sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, has been expanding for 117 straight months.

Grubhub Stock Plunges

Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash and PostMates are fighting over a growing, yet diminutive slice of the restaurant market.

In this July 11, 2019, file photo Weber grills are displayed at the Home Depot store in Londonderry, N.H. The Home Depot Inc. on Tuesday, Aug. 20, reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $3.48 billion.

U.S. Durable Goods Up 2.1% in July

A category that tracks business investment also rose for the second straight month, though last month's reading was revised down significantly.

In this July 22, 2019, photo stacked containers wait to be loaded on to trucks at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif. On Friday, Aug. 2, the Commerce Department reports on the U.S. trade gap for June.

Trade Deficit Shrinks Slightly

The deficit in the trade of goods with China fell 0.8% to $30 billion.

In this July 11, 2019, photo Weber grills are displayed at the Home Depot store in Londonderry, N.H. On Thursday, July 25, the Commerce Department releases its June report on durable goods.

Large Goods Up 2%

A category that serves as a proxy for business investment rose 1.9%, its best showing since February.

In this Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, file photo, Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, arrive for a State Dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Despite no national law, paid family leave benefits are rising in some business sectors and regions thanks to company policy and laws. A majority of Americans over 40 support paid leave to care for family. Highly visible executives, like Zuckerberg, have spoken out in favor of paid family leave laws. He announced with a status update on Facebook that he was taking two months of parental leave to help care for his new daughter. Facebook offers 16 weeks of paid leave to new mothers and fathers.

Best & Worst for Paid Leave

The current best and worst industries and regions with regard to paid family leave benefits.