Zach Edwards

2 months ago | richmondfed.org | Zach Edwards |James Melton |Sonya Ravindranath Waddell

What we know about how Fifth District businesses are reacting to the threat of tariffs Regional Matters February 6, 2025 IntroductionDecember data from our monthly business surveys and fourth quarter data from The CFO Survey suggested that firms were optimistic about their own businesses and the overall economy going into 2025. This rise in optimism, however, was accompanied by several concerns. One concern was the potential for additional tariffs on imports.

Oct 1, 2024 | mumbrella.com.au | Rosie Drew |Zach Edwards

Skip to content Skip to main navigation Opinion A cultural frame is a powerful tool for understanding consumer behaviour. Recognising the subtle yet profound ways perspectives are shaped can help brands cut through the noise. Zach Edwards explains. October 2, 2024 8:44 by ZACH EDWARDS In the wise words of author and cultural translator Dr Marcus Collins, the cultural frame is our way of translating the world. It’s a collection of the things that influence us and shape our perceptions,...

Jul 24, 2024 | insideretail.com.au | Zach Edwards

If you’ve seen an episode of Friends, Seinfeld or How I Met Your Mother, you’ll notice most scenes occur in a space other than the main characters’ homes or workplaces. In cafés, bars and diners, friendships are made and bonds strengthened as the most impactful memories of the characters’ lives unfold in this so-called ‘third place’. It’s a concept sociologist Ray Oldenburg identified in 1989 and it speaks to a physical location where people can belong – outside of home, school chool or work.

Nov 28, 2023 | richmondfed.org | Zach Edwards

November 28, 2023 In October, we saw a downturn in our Fifth District indexes for expected demand and business conditions over the next six months, especially in the service sector. Employment expectations over the same period, however, remained largely unchanged. This month, firms' six-month expectations for demand and business conditions remained soft, and near-term employment expectations remained steady.

Aug 22, 2023 | richmondfed.org | Zach Edwards

August 22, 2023 The past two years have been marked by a historically tight labor market in which many firms have had difficulty hiring and retaining workers who possess the necessary skill sets. In a recent post, we explored evidence from our business surveys that suggests that the labor market may be cooling somewhat. Our employment and availability of skills indexes have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and our estimates of wage growth have come down from their 2022 peak.