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

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about the critical yet often overlooked topic of public debt. Kristen and Ken explore the significant rise in public sector debt-to-GDP ratios since the mid-2000s, driven by adverse economic shocks, including the 20...

In our final episode of 2025, host Kristen Hallam is joined by S&P Global Market Intelligence economists Ken Wattret, Ben Herzon, Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch, and Thea Fourie to unveil the top 10 economic insights shaping the outlook for 2026. Discover how moderating inflation, shifting fiscal policies, and global trade dynamics are creating a delicate balance of tailwinds and headwinds across major...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam dives into the intricacies of U.S. consumer spending as the holiday season approaches. Joined by Michael Zdinak, Ph. D., a director in S&P Global's U.S. economics team, Kristen explores the current economic landscape following a recent government shutdown and its impact on vital economic data. Kristen and Michael discuss the resilience o...

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 outlook for 2026. The discussion explores key themes influencing growth, including the economic impact of artificial intelligence, evolving labor market dynamics, and the ongoing effects of tariffs on inflation and investment. Listeners will gain insi...

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 patterns, the economy and the geopolitical landscape. In this episode of the Decisive podcast, we set out our key strategic themes for 2026—adapting to trade realities, shaky economic foundations and shifting asymmetric power in geopolitics. Experts from our...

Host Paul Smith is joined by senior economists Pollyanna de Lima and Andrew Harker to explore the latest trends in Purchasing Managers' Indices (PMI) and their implications for the global economy. They discuss the resilience of global economic growth in 2025 in the face of challenges such as low business confidence, tariffs, and trade uncertainties. The team analyzes the mixed performance across L...

In this episode, our experts answer your most frequently asked questions about the global economy, analyzing key trends as we approach 2026.  Host Ken Wattret, vice president of global economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, leads a panel representing the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America to provide a glimpse into our expectations for the rest of 2025 and beyond. From the optimistic...

The shipping industry has faced a seismic shift following the U.S. Trade Representative's finalization of port fees targeting Chinese-built, operated and owned vessels. Such changes in trade and tariff policy are reshaping order books for bulk carriers and specialized cargo vessels and the competitive landscape of Asian shipbuilding. Ongoing physical disruptions are affecting global shipping route...

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 supply chains. Reshoring — moving some or all of your sourcing from one region or territory to another — has reemerged as a strategic option.  S&P Global Market Intelligence Head of Supply Chain Research Chris Rogers joins host Kristen Hallam to discuss...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam leads a compelling discussion on the rising political volatility across various regions, including Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Joined by experts Carla Selman, Bibianna Norek, and Jeffery McElroy, the panel explores the factors driving instability in countries like Japan, Peru, Argentina, France, and the UK. Listeners will ga...

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 Global Market Intelligence. They explore the complexities of economic forecasting in turbulent times, focusing on how to differentiate between signal and noise in economic data. Ben shares his expertise on the significance of the Purchasing Managers Index...

In this insightful episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam leads a comprehensive discussion on the current landscape of emerging markets, exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as we approach 2026. Joined by a panel of experts from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the conversation probes the economic resilience of developed versus emerging markets, the impact of trade dynami...

In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages with S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Jack A. Kennedy and Sascha Ostanina to explore the evolving military strategies in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. They discuss the shift from conventional warfare to more interventionist and attritional strategies, the role of technol...

In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam introduces senior economist  Maxwell Clarke , who explores the world of machinery and equipment pricing amidst the evolving landscape of tariffs and demand fluctuations. Max takes us into the world of machinery and equipment pricing amid the evolving landscape of tariffs and demand fluctuations. He explores how the recent tariff policies...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast from S&P Global Market Intelligence, host Andrew Harker , alongside economists David Owen and Usamah Bhatti , parses the latest findings from the Purchasing Managers' Indices (PMIs) across various regions. The discussion highlights a positive trend in global business activity for August 2025, with strong growth in both the services and manufacturing sectors....

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 Intelligence, to explore the pressing issue of inflation in today's economic landscape. As economies worldwide grapple with the aftermath of various shocks—including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts—rising prices remain a critical concern f...

In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages with Jeremy Domballe, Product Director of Maritime Intelligence and Risk, to explore the complex world of deceptive shipping practices as highlighted in the latest Maritime State of Play report. The discussion explores the rise of "zombie ships"—vessels that assume the identities of decommissioned ships—and the technological vuln...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam covers the upcoming Inland Distribution Conference, also known as Inland25, scheduled to take place in Chicago starting September 29th. Joined by Eric Johnson, Senior Editor at the Journal of Commerce from S&P Global, they explore the significance of this event for shippers, logistics companies, and other stakeholders in the industry. Th...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, guest host Tommy McCartin , Principal Economist on the Pricing and Purchasing team, dives deep into the implications of the modified country-specific tariffs imposed by the U.S. on ASEAN economies. Joined by expert guests Ashima Tyagi , Economics Associate Director in Singapore, and Yan Hoong, Lead Electronics Economist in Kuala Lumpur, the discussion explo...

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 for the global economy as we move into the latter half of 2025. Taken from a recent webinar, the discussion delves into key macroeconomic themes, including the ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade policies, divergent inflation dynamics, and the imp...

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence's team of Purchasing Managers' Index economists decodes inflation, highlighting the stark differences between the US and Eurozone.  Join host Paul Smith and fellow economists  Andrew Harker and Phil Smith as they explore the underlying factors driving these trends, including tariffs and exchange rate movements. The team analyz...

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 unpack the latest developments in U.S. tariffs and trade policy as of July 9. With the U.S. administration's approach to leveraging tariffs as a negotiation tool, the experts assess recent agreements with countries like Vietnam, the U.K., and China, and t...

How do you identify which markets present the best opportunity for growth, and which are especially vulnerable to fluctuating trade and tariff policies? In this episode of The Decisive podcast, host Kristen Hallam uncovers the origin stories behind two tools created to address these key questions: the Strategic Opportunity Index (SOI) and the Trade and Tariff Vulnerability Index (TTV). Joining Kri...

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 shifting risk landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  Recorded before significant military operations in Iran, the discussion explores nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, the implications of potential sanctions, and t...

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 critical issue of congestion at the world's ports. As global trade continues to evolve, understanding the role of ports becomes increasingly vital for economies and supply chains. Max shares insights from the latest Port Performance report, highlight...