The Decisive Podcast: Insights and analysis to empower confident decision-making.
Episodes
Logistics Finds a Way: Lessons in Supply Chain Resilience
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode of Season 5, host Kristen Hallam sits down with Chris Rogers, S&P Global Market Intelligence's head of supply chain research, to a...
Critical Minerals at a Crossroads: Navigating Supply, Demand, and Geopolitics
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the global transition to clean energy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence accelerates, the demand for critical minerals—including c...
PMI in Focus: Turning Timely Economic Signals Into Strategy
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast from S&P Global Market Intelligence, host Paul Smith, Economics Director, is joined by fellow economists Sian ...
Cooling, Not Crashing: Analyzing the US Labor Market
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US labor market is no longer running hot — but it isn't freezing up, either. In this episode of The Decisive, S&P Global Market Intelligence eco...
Ballots and Balance: Asia's Shifting Political Map
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A wave of landmark elections across Japan, Thailand, and Bangladesh is reshaping the political map of Asia—and creating new signals for investors, m...
Resilience in the Global Economy: Growth Amid Volatility
21 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive, Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, assesses the global macroeconomic ...
Mapping Geopolitical Volatility: Global Impacts From Venezuela and Iran
14 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, taken from a Feb. 4 client webinar, host Kristen Hallam, along with experts John Raines, Jack Kennedy, and Jeffery McElroy, dive int...
Agentic AI Gives Data a Voice in Supply Chain Management
07 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Agentic AI can move supply chains from reactive "triage" to smarter, faster decision-making. In this episode of The Decisive, S&P Global Market Intell...
Stablecoin Adoption: The Next Wave
31 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Stablecoins are designed to keep a steady value—by pegging to a reserve asset like the US dollar—while delivering the speed and lower cost of bloc...
Federal Reserve in Focus: Rates, Risks, and the Road Ahead
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US Federal Reserve is always in the spotlight, and that spotlight is brighter than ever in 2026. In this episode of The Decisive, economist Lawren...
Taking Costs Out, Putting Value In: Shipping Strategies in Focus at TPM26
17 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As global trade faces unprecedented disruption, shippers must rethink everything from cost containment to risk management. In this episode of the Deci...
Fiscal Fragilities in the Global Economy
10 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics ...
Top 10 Insights Shaping the 2026 Economic Outlook
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our final episode of 2025, host Kristen Hallam is joined by S&P Global Market Intelligence economists Ken Wattret, Ben Herzon, Hanna Luchnikava-Sch...
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like... the Economic Outlook for US Consumer Spending
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the intricacies of U.S. consumer spending as the holiday season approaches. Jo...
Optimism and Uncertainty: The 2026 US Economic Outlook
29 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages with economists from S&P Global Market Intelligence to unpack the U.S. economic o...
The Age of Agility: Key Themes for 2026
22 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If 2025 was a year of seismic shifts, 2026 will be a year of recalibration to both the aftershocks and the new disruptions we expect to trade pattern...
PMI in Focus: Global Business Outlook and AI Sentiment
15 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host Paul Smith is joined by senior economists Pollyanna de Lima and Andrew Harker to explore the latest trends in Purchasing Managers' Indices (PMI) ...
Frequently Asked Questions About the Global Economy
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our experts answer your most frequently asked questions about the global economy, analyzing key trends as we approach 2026. Host Ke...
Charting a New Course for Asia's Shipbuilding Powerhouses
01 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The shipping industry has faced a seismic shift following the U.S. Trade Representative's finalization of port fees targeting Chinese-built, operated ...
Reshoring Potential: Indonesia and Malaysia in Global Supply Chains
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach the end of 2025, companies are starting to move beyond calculating tariff rates and to think develop long-term strategies for their sup...
Mapping Political Volatility: Elections, Unrest and Instability in Key Regions
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam leads a compelling discussion on the rising political volatility across various regions, ...
Forecasting the US Economy in Uncertain Times
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with Ben Herzon, co-head of US Economics at S&P Globa...
New Pathways to Economic Growth in Emerging Markets
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam leads a comprehensive discussion on the current landscape of emerging markets, explori...
Evolving Military Strategies: Insights from the Middle East and Ukraine
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages with S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Jack A. Kennedy and Sascha Ostanina t...
Gear Up for Price Pressures in Machinery and Equipment
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam introduces senior economist Maxwell Clarke, who explores the world of machinery and equi...
PMI in Focus: Economic Signals in the Middle East and Asia
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast from S&P Global Market Intelligence, host Andrew Harker, alongside economists David Owen and Usamah Bhatti, pa...
Inflation Dynamics in an Uncertain World
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelli...
Zombies at Sea and Other Deceptive Shipping Practices: Maritime State of Play
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages with Jeremy Domballe, Product Director of Maritime Intelligence and Risk, to expl...
Searching for Value Amid Uncertainty: A Sneak Peek at Inland 25
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam covers the upcoming Inland Distribution Conference, also known as Inland25, scheduled to ...
Wired Together: ASEAN Economies and Electronics
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, guest host Tommy McCartin, Principal Economist on the Pricing and Purchasing team, dives deep into the implic...
A Mid-Year Check-In on the Global Economy
09 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam introduces a team of S&P Global economists to discuss the latest analysis and predictions...
PMI in Focus: Inflation Insights and Expectations for 2026
19 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence's team of Purchasing Managers' Index economists decodes inflation, highlightin...
Takeaways on Tariffs Following July 9 Developments
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Chris Rogers and John Raines to unpac...
Strategic Opportunities: Flipping the Script on the Risk Story
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you identify which markets present the best opportunity for growth, and which are especially vulnerable to fluctuating trade and tariff policie...
MENA in Focus: Potential for Conflict and Cooperation
28 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by analysts Jacob Lees Weiss and Kevjn Lim to explore the intricate and rapidly...
Happier Berth Days: Why Congestion at the World's Ports Matters
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by Max Janthur, the product specialist for Port Performance, to delve into the ...
Shedding Light on the Shadow Fleet
14 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the complex world of the maritime shadow fleet, exploring its emergence a...
Reduced Speed Ahead: Outlook for the US Economy
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive, we're sharing highlights from our US macroeconomic webinar on May 20, featuring expert commentary from our economics ...
Drilling Down Into Sector-Specific Tariffs
31 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam explores the complex landscape of tariffs under the current administration, focusing on t...
What's at Stake in Tariff Negotiations
24 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, experts from S&P Global Market Intelligence explore the complexities of global trade negotiations and their p...
PMI in Focus: Tariff Impact in Asia, UK Labor Market Trends
17 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Paul Smith is joined by fellow economists Andrew Harker and Annabel Fiddes...
How AI Is Influencing Shipping and Supply Chains
10 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the shipping and ...
Domestic Discontent: Election Aftermath and Upcoming Polls
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Kristen Hallam and a panel of experts as they discuss the growing concerns of domestic instability impacting countries around the globe. Wit...
Tariff Impact: Trade Relations, Supply Chains, Prices and Economies
26 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam moderates a discussion on the potential impacts of the April 2 tariff announcements an...
PIERS Review: Anchoring Decisions in Trade Data
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives deep into the intricacies of PIERS, the Port Import-Export Reporting System, with B...
Trade Tensions: How the EU Could Respond to U.S. Tariffs
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Shuchita ...
Global Macroeconomic Themes: Navigating Policy Changes in a Dynamic World
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The episode of The Decisive, taken from a March 20 webinar, features insights from experts including Ken Wattret, Ben Herzon, Arlene Kish, Nicolas ...
Hot Topics in Shipping and Supply Chains: Tariffs, Taxes and More
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam discusses the hot topics from the recent Transpacific Maritime, or TPM, conference with M...
PMI in Focus: Navigating Uncertainty in Trade and Tariffs
22 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Paul Smith, alongside economists Andrew Harker and Joe Hayes, reveals the latest trends and insights fro...
Global Security Hotspots: Impacts on Marine Cargo
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Kristen Hallam dives into the complexities of global security hotspots and their profound effects on marine cargo with expert in...
Takeaways from TPM25: Tariffs, trade and geopolitical risks for shippers and carriers
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam leads a discussion of key takeaways from TPM25, the world's largest container shipping co...
Economic Angst: Canada's Faceoff on Trade
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Economics Director Arlene Kish about the outlook for the Canadian economy and ...
Navigating Sanctions: Insights on Trade Compliance
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam interviews Byron McKinney, Product Management Director for S&P Global's Trade Compliance ...
Trump's first 100 days: Outlook and potential impact
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What key priorities will the new administration and a Republican-majority Congress emphasize as President Donald Trump embarks on his first 100 days i...
Under Construction: Industry Outlook and Themes for 2025
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our podcast, taken from our January 2025 webinar, we dive into the latest trends and insights from the global construction industry...
Elusive Alliances: Russia, Ukraine, NATO and Trump
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict approaches, The Decisive podcast delves into the current outlook for the war and its implicati...
Global macroeconomic insights: The US and Mainland China
25 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the The Decisive podcast, taken from our Jan. 21 client webinar, Ken Wattrett, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Ma...
Buyers Beware of Potential Tariff Troubles
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive, Emily Crowley, head of the Pricing and Purchasing team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, analyzes the potential impa...
Trade and Immigration in Trump's Second Era
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, we delve into the pivotal trade and immigration policies of President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares for h...
Top 10 Economic Insights for 2025
04 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Economic angst is one of our four key themes for 2025. The anchors around the global economy — low inflation, low interest rates, international coop...
Power plays: Themes for 2025
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The interplay of geopolitical rivalries, economic shifts and evolving trade dynamics will define a conflicted global landscape over 2025. In our last ...
2024 in Review: Supply Chain Resilience, Resource Security and Logistics Rewired
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach 2025, we are reflecting on our key themes for 2024. In this episode, we're revisiting some key moments and insights from our previous e...
2024 in Review: Economic Fault Lines
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach 2025, we are reflecting on our key themes for 2024. In this episode, we're revisiting some key moments and insights from our previous e...
2024 in Review: Geopolitical Reordering
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach 2025, we are reflecting on our key themes for 2024. In this episode, we revisit key moments and insights from our previous episodes on ...
Port A to Port B: Get Ready for The World's Biggest Container Shipping Conference
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Peter Tirschwell, founder and chair of TPM, the world's largest container shipping conference, discusses the industry dynamics inform...
PMI in Focus: Global Economic Trends and Consumer Sentiment
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join economists Paul Smith, Andrew Harker, and Maryam Baluch in this episode of The Decisive podcast as they delve into the latest trends in the globa...
The Global Economy: Region by Region
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our global economist, Ken Wattret, leads a discussion with economists from S&P Global Market Intelligence about the economic landscap...
Supply Chains for the Energy Transition
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the critical intersection of energy transition and supply chains. Our experts discuss how supply chains are essential for transporting vital r...
2024 Holiday Sales: Trick or Treat?
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this spirited episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the fascinating world of Halloween sales and their implications for s...
The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by analysts Dijedon Imeri and Louise Alestam to explore the European Union's Co...
Labor's Long Road
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As commodity prices undergo rapid corrections, the labor market is experiencing a slower recovery. While conditions are improving for employers, wage ...
Made in Europe
05 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam is joined by David Vagenknecht and Shuchita Shukla from S&P Global Market Intelligence to...
The G20 in a Disjointed World
28 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, we dive into the upcoming G20 Summit, set to take place in November during a year filled with significant geo...
Previewing the 2024 Inland Distribution Conference
21 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam delves into the upcoming Inland Distribution Conference, featuring insights from industry...
PMI in Focus: Trade trends and political uncertainty
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Paul Smith is joined by senior economists Andrew Harker and Tim Moore to explore the latest trends in g...
India's Demographic Dividend
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the world's most populous country, India faces unique opportunities and challenges in maximizing its labor potential for economic growth. This epis...
How US Monetary Policy Works
07 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brush up on how U.S. monetary policy works as the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee approaches. Host Kristen Hallam explores the ...
Supply Chains Get Schooled
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into the critical back-to-school shopping season, a key retail period for U.S. consumers and businesses. Our experts explore projected growth in ...
Remodeling the home improvement market
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam sits down with Scott Hazelton, Consulting Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, to ...
Spilling the tea on the coffee trade
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tea or coffee? Our experts tell the fascinating story of the trade in two beloved beverages: tea and coffee. Featuring insights from Anna Rybicka and ...
Global macroeconomic themes
10 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recent economic data releases have sparked turmoil in financial markets around the globe. S&P Global Market Intelligence's interpretation of this r...
Container Port Performance Index
03 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the top ranked ports in the world? Turloch Mooney, head of the port intelligence and analytics business at S&P Global Market Intelligence, d...
Election impact: UK Parliament
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jan Gerhard, Raj Badiani, and Chris Rogers from S&P Global Market Intelligence join host Kristen Hallam to discuss the new UK government and its impli...
Election impact: France and the Olympics
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bibianna Norek and Diego Iscaro discuss the French election and its potential impacts on policymaking and the economy. In the absence of an absolute m...
PMI in Focus: Midyear pulse check, reshoring, outlook survey
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Economists Paul Smith and Andrew Harker use data from our Purchasing Managers Index surveys to provide insights and analysis on the performance of the...
Metal mayhem in the supply chain
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Chaos." That's how steel expert John Anton describes the market for the rest of this year in this episode of The Decisive Podcast. John is joined by ...
Election impact: European Parliament
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dijedon Imeri, principal analyst for Europe and CIS country risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence, joins host Kristen Hallam to discuss the European ...
Insights from the US Macroeconomic Outlook (Q2 2024)
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Kristen Hallam as she discusses the US macroeconomic outlook with Ben Herzon, Executive Director and Co-Head of U.S. Economics at S&P Global...
Election impact: South Africa
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Decisive podcast, where our experts provide insights and analysis to empower confident decision-making. The Decisive merges the Economi...
India's election impact: Insights and analysis
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We analyze the recent election results in India, the world's largest democracy, and the potential impact on the country's business environment and on ...
Mexico's election impact: Insights and analysis
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We analyze the recent election results in Mexico and their potential impact on the country's business environment and geopolitical landscape. Our expe...
Monetary policy: Different narratives
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 220, our economists went beyond the monetary policy questions of when and how much to the implications of these pivots for businesses. In ...
Monetary policy: Pivots and prospects
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our economists share their perspectives on inflation, interest rates, and central bank policies. Gain valuable insights into the Fed's cautious stance...
The world's fastest growing economy: 10 minutes with an expert
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We delve into the remarkable growth of Guyana's economy, which has been the fastest growing in the world for several years. Fueled by its booming oil ...
PMI in Focus: Update on inflation and a new PMI survey
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our expert economists dive into the world of Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data and its impact on global markets. We kick off with...
Banking risk update for emerging markets
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our banking risk experts provide insight into events impacting the financial sector in emerging markets each month. In this episode, we delve into the...
The state of semiconductor supply chains
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The chip industry sits at the nexus of national security and economic development policies. That has resulted in a race both in supporting national in...
Economic impact of armed conflicts
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The prolongation of existing — and emergence of new — armed conflicts will likely remain a major source of geopolitical instability in the world e...
Reshoring Challenges
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Companies are finding that supply chain disruption is not receding and the reliability of input, such as transportation is not returning to normal. We...
Logistics and transportation: 10 minutes with an expert
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Global demand continues to tread water, with the construction and manufacturing sectors facing headwinds from high interest rates. Suppliers are respo...