Hello from Simon 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top five concerns for global chief financial officers 
 
I subscribe to CFO.com and found from an Australian perspective it is interesting to see what is troubling CFO’s in Asia, USA and Europe. The cost and availability of labour, appears to be troubling CFO’s globally.  
 
Above all they fear that an array of intensifying economic pressures will finally affect the giant US consumer market and their normal insatiable demand for goods and services. Particularly in the USA the costs of fuel and healthcare are pushing the once indefatigable US consumer to finally turn away from the shopping malls and find new leisure pastimes, which don’t require spending, I suspect. Throw in the sub prime debacle and that the banks are finding it hard to lend; trust each other in the wholesale markets which is also putting pressure on the cost of bank funding and hence interest rates. 
 
Incidentally for those of us who find it difficult to understand the sub prime problem there was a great "stick man" powerpoint slide doing the email rounds which puts the extent of the problem in plain English. Sadly, I can’t link it in for you, as some of the wording is a little to "plain" English. 
 
Back to the survey, the cost of labour and the skills shortage ranks first and second in Asia and Europe, which is no surprise to the capacity constrained, developing global economies and Australia with our skilled labour market shortages. 
 
The full list of worries can be found on CFO.com while the top five are below: 
 
Asia 
Cost of labour 
Skilled labour shortage 
Consumer demand 
Currency values 
Fuel costs 
 
Europe 
Cost of labour 
Skilled labour shortage 
Consumer demand 
Cost of fuel 
Currency/commodities values 
 
USA 
Consumer demand 
Cost of labour 
Credit markets/interest rates 
Cost of fuel 
Cost of health 
 
On this cheery note, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and safe Easter holiday period. 
 
Cheers 
Simon Grant FCA 
simon.grant@charteredaccountants.com.au 
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2. State Chair's News 
   
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4. Careers Marketing 
   
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