Global Economic Press

Working Advantage Survey: Nearly 80% of Employers Plan to Maintain or Increase Benefits in 2026

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses the latest findings from a Working Advantage survey, which reveals that nearly 80% of employers plan to maintain or increase benefits in 2026. Despite the economic pressures faced in 2025, particularly in the technology sector, where massive layoffs occurred, the survey indicates a positive trend in employee benefit budgeting. Employers are increasingly viewing benefits as strategic investments in employee retention and satisfaction rather than discretionary spending. The survey highlights that benefits supporting retention, engagement, and everyday employee needs are prioritized, with employee discount programs becoming a popular choice. These programs allow employees to save on everyday expenses, travel, and experiences, offering flexibility and choice without increasing fixed costs for employers.
Tom Murphy, General Manager at Working Advantage, emphasizes that today's workforce expects more than traditional benefits, and scalable, financially focused perks play a crucial role in retention. The survey also suggests that a robust benefits package can serve as a competitive differentiator in the dynamic labor market, helping employers attract exceptional candidates. As employers navigate economic uncertainty, benefits remain a central focus for keeping employees engaged and satisfied. The Working Advantage 2026 Net Promoter Score Survey, conducted with responses from various industries and company sizes in the United States, underscores the importance of benefits that deliver practical and measurable value. For more information, visit the company's website at Working Advantage.

Local Concrete Contractor CEO, Once Homeless, Gives Free Salt to Shelters and Seniors While Competitors Charge Up to $100 Per Bag

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses a remarkable story of corporate responsibility and community support. The episode highlights Local Concrete Contractor, a national residential concrete finishing franchise, which has taken a commendable step by providing free salt to homeless shelters, elderly residents, and homeowners during recent harsh winter storms. This initiative stands out as many suppliers and competitors have raised prices to as much as one hundred dollars per bag. The company's founder, who once experienced homelessness, was driven by personal experiences to ensure that no one is left without support during emergencies. The coordinated effort involved all franchise locations nationwide, with teams working tirelessly to deliver the much-needed salt without any strings attached.
The response from communities was overwhelmingly positive, with residents expressing gratitude and disbelief that a concrete contractor, rather than a government agency or nonprofit, was providing such essential support during a storm. Local Concrete Contractor, known for its residential concrete finishing services, managed to organize a multi-state relief effort that surpassed the capabilities of many larger organizations. The company purchased salt at regular market prices, deployed trucks immediately, and refused to accept donations or charge emergency rates. This episode underscores the profound impact of corporate generosity and the importance of community support in times of need. For more information about Local Concrete Contractor, visit their website at Local Concrete Contractor.

Coupons.com Reveals the Most and Least Expensive US Cities to Live in for 2026

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into a comprehensive report from Coupons.com that identifies the most and least expensive cities to live in across the United States as we approach 2026. The report highlights the significant impact of location on financial security, with the cost of living being a crucial factor. The disparity between high-cost and low-cost communities is stark, with luxury areas featuring million-dollar homes and small towns where rent remains affordable. The discussion also touches on recent data from the Bank of America Institute, which shows that consumer spending growth in 2025 was primarily driven by higher-income households, while lower-income consumers are spending less on non-essential categories like travel and dining.
Coupons.com's Cost of Living Index provides a detailed analysis of everyday expenses across the country, revealing where Americans can maximize their budgets in 2026. Paradise Valley, Arizona, is identified as the most expensive city, while Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, is the most affordable. The index evaluates six key categories: housing, rent, groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation, offering a clear picture of affordability. For a full breakdown of the most and least expensive cities in each state, visit Coupons.com. The platform also offers digital coupons and cashback offers to help consumers save on everyday essentials, regardless of their location.

Lewis & Sheron Textiles Becomes a Premier Verellen Destination for the Trade Featuring One of the Largest Showroom Collections in the U.S.

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the interior design and home furnishings sector, spotlighting Lewis & Sheron Textiles' emergence as a premier destination for Verellen furniture in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Lewis & Sheron Textiles has curated one of the largest Verellen showroom collections in the country, transforming the way interior designers and trade professionals experience high-end furniture. The showroom allows designers to interact with Verellen’s handcrafted pieces, such as sofas, chairs, beds, and tables, and even purchase select items directly off the floor, offering a unique advantage for projects with tight timelines.
Lewis & Sheron Textiles enhances its offerings with the Star Designer Program, providing exclusive trade pricing, personalized support, and logistical coordination to streamline the design process for professionals. The showroom also features complementary resources, including furniture from Lee Industries and Wesley Hall, and textiles from Libeco Home, P Kaufmann, and others. This comprehensive approach positions Lewis & Sheron Textiles as a full-service partner for trade professionals, offering both product and expertise. For more information, visit their website at Lewis & Sheron Textiles.

Stockarkalytics Launches AI-Powered Investment Analysis Platform

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on investment analysis, spotlighting the recent launch of StockArkaLytics' AI-powered platform. StockArkaLytics is making significant strides in the financial technology sector by introducing a web platform that empowers investors with sophisticated tools for both technical and fundamental stock analysis. The platform is designed to cut through the market noise and provide clear, objective analytics, helping investors make informed decisions without relying heavily on media-driven narratives.
StockArkaLytics offers a comprehensive suite of features, including detailed metrics, sentiment scores, risk assessments, and unusual options activity, all backed by advanced machine learning algorithms. The platform aims to democratize access to high-level investment analysis tools, catering to both professional and individual investors. As StockArkaLytics continues to enhance its platform, it remains committed to providing users with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and stock analysis technology. For more information, visit StockArkaLytics' website.

Automorph Inc. Introduces Six Birds (preprint)

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into a groundbreaking development in mathematics and theoretical science presented by Automorph Inc. The company has introduced a new preprint titled "Six Birds: Foundations of Emergence Calculus," which offers a novel framework for understanding how stable entities and laws emerge from limited observations. The discussion highlights the paper's proposal of six closure operations, known as Six Birds (P1–P6), which are crucial for building coherent theories from partial observations. The central claim of the research is that the mechanics of emergence, typically associated with life, also govern the birth and evolution of theories themselves. This perspective suggests that a theory is not merely a description but a repeatable completion of observations into stable objects and rules.
One of the most striking results from the paper is the "Nothing Stays Constant" lemma, which demonstrates that when a new distinction is added to a coarse description of a finite world, it almost always results in a strict extension of the existing theory. This finding implies that new variables are not mere decorations but essential elements that change what can be said, what counts as an object, and which regularities can be compressed into law-like statements. The episode emphasizes the potential impact of this research on various scientific and engineering fields, offering a precise, operational way to discuss novelty in theory-building. For more information about Automorph Inc. and their work, visit their website at Automorph Inc..

HiBob Celebrates #1 Rankings for Core HRMS, Performance Management, and HR Service Delivery in the 2025–2026 Sapient Insights Mid-Market Voice of the Customer Report

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the advancements in human resources technology, spotlighting HiBob, a company that is significantly impacting the industry. HiBob has recently been recognized with top rankings in the 2025-2026 Sapient Insights Mid-Market Voice of the Customer Report. The company achieved number one rankings in User Experience and Vendor Satisfaction across Core Human Resource Management System, Performance Management, and Human Resource Service Delivery. This recognition underscores HiBob's influence in the mid-market human resource technology space and highlights the growing expectations for modern, global Human Resource Management System platforms.
HiBob's success is attributed to its innovative people management platform, Bob, which is transforming how organizations operate in the age of artificial intelligence. The platform is praised for its intuitive design, responsiveness, and people-first approach, making it a preferred choice for over 5,300 global companies. With its flexible architecture and robust analytics, Bob supports agility and insight at scale, enhancing the overall employee experience. As HiBob continues to gain momentum, it is well-positioned to lead the human resource technology market for mid-sized companies. For more information about HiBob and its offerings, visit HiBob's website.

Aimscap Enters Strategic Partnership with Lamborghini

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses a groundbreaking partnership between Aimscap, a leader in trading technology, and the iconic luxury automotive brand Lamborghini. This strategic collaboration aims to push the boundaries of performance and exclusivity, offering unique experiences to clients across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to extend beyond conventional boundaries, bringing together performance-driven thinking, precision, and exclusivity for traders and brand enthusiasts. Alex explores the details of this alliance and its implications for the global market.
Aimscap's Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Chang, emphasizes that this collaboration goes beyond a traditional commercial arrangement, aligning both brands' philosophies of excellence and precision. The partnership marks an important milestone in Aimscap’s global growth strategy, reinforcing its position at the intersection of advanced trading technology and high-end lifestyle experiences. As the partnership develops, both organizations will explore initiatives that deliver cross-sector value, offering premium clients a distinctive experience that blends refined luxury with performance-led innovation. For more information, visit Aimscap's website.

Ipsos MMA Named a Leader in Marketing Measurement and Optimization Services, Q1 2026 Report by Independent Research Firm

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady discusses the recent recognition of Ipsos MMA as a Leader in the Forrester Wave: Marketing Measurement and Optimization Services, Q1 2026 report. Ipsos MMA, a global leader in marketing planning, measurement, and optimization, has been acknowledged for its exceptional capabilities in helping enterprises measure and optimize marketing performance. The company received the highest possible scores in 20 of the evaluation criteria, with Forrester highlighting its strong measurement tools, hands-on consulting approach, and the Activate measurement platform that delivers unified measurement at scale. This recognition underscores Ipsos MMA's commitment to providing solutions that drive incremental value and maximize business outcomes for its clients.
The Forrester report also praised Ipsos MMA's approach to client engagement and change management, noting its detailed discovery roadmap for various teams and its ability to evolve as clients mature. Ipsos MMA's data quality and benchmarking capabilities were also highlighted, with global benchmarks from over 70 sources used to monitor performance and assess data quality. The company's Unified Measurement Framework and Agile Attribution technology offer closed-loop measurement and optimization across the full media taxonomy, powered by NextGen Artificial Intelligence capabilities. Ipsos MMA's recognition as a Customer Favorite further emphasizes its strong client relationships and effective modeling capabilities. For more information about Ipsos MMA, visit their website at https://mma.com.

WPI Beauty Named 2026 Winner of The Knot Best of Weddings and WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards

In this episode of Global Economic Press, Alex Brady delves into the world of weddings and beauty services, highlighting the impressive achievements of WarPaint International Beauty Agency. The company has been honored as a 2026 winner of both The Knot Best of Weddings and the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards. These accolades are a testament to WarPaint International's leadership in the bridal beauty industry, particularly in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Chicago markets. The awards recognize the agency's consistent excellence, reliability, and high client satisfaction, as evidenced by verified reviews from real couples.
WarPaint International's success is attributed to its 'Inquiry to I Do' client care philosophy, which offers a structured, concierge-style process to alleviate stress from beauty planning. This approach ensures clients receive comprehensive support from initial consultation to the final moments before the wedding ceremony. The agency's commitment to professionalism is further reinforced by its rigorous vetting process for artists, ensuring each is insured and background-checked. For more information about WarPaint International Beauty Agency, visit WarPaint International Beauty Agency.