Consumer Trends

The Business News Headlines & More 5 September 2019

Early this morning the futures indicated the markets would open much higher and they did with the Dow rising well above 400 points and the markets stayed that way.  In the business news headlines today:
What happened on Wall Street & why;
Just what you need...a Facebook dating service;
Guns, Walmart & Stocks;
Air Travel and the 737 Max;
Why Apple is borrowing $7 billion;
The MOST demanding job...ever?
Those stories and more along with our guest chef and author Terrie Kohl. Here she talks about why she loves being the personal chef for hundreds of people, what cooking means, the new trends and we'll also talk about her new book, "Bringing Friends & Family Back Around the Table". Terrie Kohl in our Small Business Spotlight and thank you to The Coffeesmiths of Waukee, Iowa for letting us set up our studio at their location. To hear our conversation click here. 

The Business News Headlines & More 28 August 2019

All signs pointed to a lower open on Wall Street and the Dow did sink early in the day but rebounded as energy stocks took over. That store and more like these wait for you a click away:
The Inverted Yield Curve means...what?
Retail isn't, they say, in major trouble;
Hudson's Bay is selling Lord & Taylor;
Facebook and Political Advertising;
Great Britain to shutter Parlament. No, not kidding.
Those stories and more along with this TWO part conversation with Congresswoman Cindy Axne who represents Iowa's Third Congressional District. In Part One we talk about some of the accomplishments going on in Washington D.C. even as people say "nothing is happening". That and more in this first part.
In Part Two of our conversation with Congresswoman Cindy Axne we talk about jobs, agriculture and more about health care, education...older Iowans and caregiving. Here is Part Two.

The Business News Headlines & More 22 August 2019

It was predicted that the markets would open lower this morning and they did and then started to claw their way back above the flatline. It's the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 22nd of August. That story and these:
Dick's Sporting Goods wins but takes a pass on gun sales;
Jobless claims are in and it's a mixed bag;
The Affordable Care Act is back in the news and growing;
Thousands leave the private health care insurance world;
Retail numbers are good, unless you are a department store;
There was an opps with the Iowa Department of Public...Safety/
Those stories and our interview today is with Kim Robinson the owner of a video business, D2D Training, that trains door to door sales people. No, really! I had no idea how big this business is and we take a deep dive into sales and sales training videos. You can hear all of that right....here! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International
 

The Business News Headlines & More 19 August 2019

The markets recovered some of their August sell-off today with the Dow up 249 points, the Nasdaq gaining 106 points and the S&P 500 up by 34 points and change.  The reason? Bond yields rose, the government is giving U.S. businesses 90 days to do business with Huawei and President Trump telling everybody that the trade talks are going well.  It was enough to boost stocks.  In other news:
Target to launch yet another private brand;
The problem for restaurants with food delivery companies;
Major corporate CEO's today stunned the world;
Stress and the job search.
Those stories plus Laura Kinnard from DMBizMixer joins me to talk about the business of the Iowa State Fair that say 1.1 million visitors attend, some networking events and the Hashies are this week. You can hear all of that right here.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International
 

The Business News & More 15 August 2019

Some days ya just don't know where to start. It was projected that the Dow was going to open strong this morning. That didn't happen but what did happen is our first story:
It's enough to make you shiver;
To drive customers into its store J.C. Penny will sell....
General Electric a "fraud bigger than Enron"? Yikes;
Big back to school items are...bullet proof. We're not kidding;
Walmart "open" to the discussion of banning assault weapons.
Those stories plus a conversation with Dr. Chris Draper the author of Violicity Economics...where we start out but the main focus of our visit is about "deep-fakes" and making sure what you have created is what you created and when it was created. Sound...deep? Meet the founder of Trokt and Hang on this will be something for you to hear.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International
 

Our Small Business Spotlight - A New Look Exteriors

We all know that it is the small business that is the back-bone of our local, regional and national economy. On a regular basis we offer up a Small Business Spotlight to share the stories of these entrepreneurs. Today our guest is Justin Williams who, with his wife, founded A New Look Exteriors in October of 2018 and has seen incredible business growth. Recently named the Small Business of the Year by his local chamber Justin talks about the "secret sauce" that spells growth for his new company. We think you'll enjoy this...
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines 7 August 2019

The early morning futures indicated that Wall Street was going to open down and it did. What's up? Trade issues the global economy...it's starting to get serious.  In the news today:
If it seems like there was a Walgreens on every corner...that's about to change;
The Disney Company, streaming and financial losses;
Where is the trade war with China headed? Some thoughts;
Hear about the McDonald's drink cup in Japan?
NPR to cut some newsroom jobs;
The National Rifle Association in the news...again;
Vacations and your reluctance to take one.
Click through for those stories and more! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines and More 5 August 2019

It was not a pretty sight today on Wall Street as the Dow sank by over 800 points. Why? You might call it trade by twitter?  Here's what we're talking about today, Monday the 5th of August:
China and the dollar...theirs, and maybe ours;
There was one stock sector that was up today...can you guess?
Amazon putting pressure on its merchants to lower prices;
A big bank eyes profits and cuts 4,000 jobs;
The "hot job market" that may not be so...hot;
Numbers and the Governor of Iowa;
Sunday delivery coming but with lower wages;
Newspaper news...Gannett is purchased.
Those stories plus a hyper-local conversation about the small community of Adel, Iowa and it's upcoming Sweet Corn Festival.  My guest is the executive director of the Adel Area Partners Chamber, Deb Bengston. Here is that link. 
Also Laura Kinnard from DMBizMixer.com joins me to talk it up about business networking events, Co-Working Week and women in business. You can hear that...here.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News and More 2 August 2019

Just when you thought it was safe to come out we get Trade Policy by Twitter and there go the markets. That story is first up today as Wall Street struggled all day long.  Also today:
The Labor Department said the U.S. added 164,000 jobs;
Wages year over year up by 3.1% but...there is a but;
Somebody really was listening to Siri and Google...but no longer;
Best food places in America according to a new survey;
Goodbye eating in restaurants? Food delivery is the new thing.
Those stories plus Trevor Babcock and Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine are here to chat it up about music, sports, the arts, movies and more as we riff "Stuff to DO in the Metro" this weekend into next week. To hear that, click here.
Thanks for listening.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines & More 30 July 2019

Wall Street struggled all day because a number of headwinds from China to the Democratic Debate happening tonight. That story and these coming your way today:
That much touted Costco digital app...oops;
Capital One and lawsuits...already;
How about a savings rate 30 times that of other banks;
Apple and earnings;
The high cost of housing moves inland;
A personal air-conditioner?  Yep.
Those stories and more along with our business interview with Carol Hunter the Executive Editor of the Des Moines Register. Recently parent company Gannett rolled out a new payment plan for content. We talk about that, the business of newspapers, the work being done and the costs incurred...lots inside and it's just a click away. Like right here!   
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International