Even before the world first heard of COVID-19, retailers had been rightly questioning if their traditional planning process was broken. Consumers’ behavior has become much more fickle, while their expectations from retailers have shot up over the last few years. Simply plugging in the prior year’s numbers, then, was already beginning to feel unreliable and incomplete. But the onset of the pandemic has completely upended planning. Considering how much the world and consumer behavior has changed over the last 18 months, trends and numbers...

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The US dollar was driven to new highs for the year in recent weeks by a combination of another signal that the Federal Reserve was still on track to taper before the end of the year and concerns about global aggregate demand.  The spread of the contagion has exacerbated the slowdown already seen in parts of Asia.  China's efforts to curb steel output and recognition that the US infrastructure initiative may be smaller than expected were separate sources of...

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In this week’s Roar, we have the world’s first autonomous 7MWh electric cargo ship, Maersk’s $1.4B investment in 8 new carbon-neutral vessels, record-breaking supply chain disruptions, stretched U.S. inland transits, and a looming UK customs regime for exports. As the industry races to address its part in the rise of global greenhouse gas emissions, companies like Norwegian-based Yara International are quickly making a name for themselves as leaders of the search for sustainability. According to electrek, the company “claims to have created...

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Tax - the elephant in the room on President Macron's visit to Dublin Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed to Ireland on his first official visit to the State since taking office in 2017. The day commenced at Áras an Uachtaráin where the President was welcomed by President Michael D. Higgins and where he noted Ireland’s place “at the heart of the European dream.” The President then travelled to Government Buildings for a working lunch with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Keep...

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Introduction The Government’s advice surrounding non-essential foreign travel changed on 19 July 2021.  While staycations are more common than ever before, foreign holidays are back on the agenda. The new advice is to travel safely and in accordance with the latest public health guidance. As restrictions ease and with some businesses starting to plan a staggered return to the workplace, it will be challenging for employers to navigate employees returning from holidays abroad this summer. This is made more difficult...

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