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

Every new gigawatt of data center capacity requires a massive physical build-out: steel, concrete, cooling systems, backup power, transformers, heavy equipment, server racks and supporting infrastructure. By one estimate, each gigawatt of new U.S. data center capacity could require roughly 100,000 truckloads, according to one estimate.
 
In this episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam speaks with Bill Cassidy, Senior Editor, Trucking and Domestic Transportation at the Journal of Commerce by S&P Global, and Paul Bingham, Director, Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence, about why data center construction is a freight capacity story.
 
The conversation explores how surging demand from data center projects is arriving as the U.S. trucking market emerges from a post-pandemic freight recession, with capacity tightening, operating costs rising and regulatory enforcement removing some drivers and equipment from the market. As data center freight competes with retail, manufacturing, housing, energy and infrastructure shipments, shippers may face higher transportation costs, tighter capacity and more complex procurement decisions.
 
Bill and Paul also discuss how demand is spreading across transportation modes — from flatbed and heavy-haul trucking to dry van, less-than-truckload, intermodal rail, ocean shipping and air cargo — and why shippers may consider adopting a more integrated, end-to-end view of logistics planning for major construction projects.
 
The episode also previews themes that will be explored at the Journal of Commerce's Inland 26 Conference in Chicago, including freight demand, rates, capacity, network resilience and the broader economic outlook for transportation.
 
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Data centers pulling on already shrinking pool of US truck capacity
Breakbulk industry warily wades into AI
Click here to register for the Inland26 conference 
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Chokepoints vs. shortcuts: Supply chain outlook for critical maritime routes
Red Sea maritime and aviation risks
Credits:
Host: Kristen Hallam
Guests: Bill Cassidy, Paul Bingham
Produced By: Kristen Hallam
Edited By: Marz Marcello
Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of The Decisive, taken from a July 15 webinar, S&P Global Market Intelligence economists discuss the latest shifts in the global macroeconomic outlook, including the resilience of the US economy, China's growth profile, political and fiscal developments in Latin America, and Europe's cautious recovery amid persistent energy, trade and consumer-demand headwinds.
Key themes
·       Shaky economic foundations remain the core global theme. Geopolitical uncertainty, unstable inflation and interest-rate dynamics, trade frictions and strained public finances continue to weigh on the outlook.
·       The US economy continues to show resilience. Lower energy intensity, AI-related investment and stronger equity valuations have helped support growth.
·       Asia Pacific growth is still highly export-dependent. China and several regional economies continue to benefit from technology- and AI-related demand, while soft domestic demand and inflation risks remain key vulnerabilities.
·       Latin America may be seeing an upside risk from political change. A shift toward more market-oriented policy agendas could improve investment conditions, although fiscal adjustment remains a major challenge across several economies.
·       Europe has weathered the energy shock better than in past crises, but growth remains modest. Lower energy intensity, healthier labor markets and softer energy prices have helped, while weak consumer demand, trade uncertainty, industrial softness and limited fiscal room continue to constrain the outlook.
Why it matters
The episode underscores how global growth is being shaped by a mix of resilience and fragility. AI investment, lower energy intensity and improving policy prospects in some regions are offering support, while geopolitical shocks, sticky inflation, strained public finances, weak domestic demand and fragile trade conditions continue to limit the upside. For businesses and investors, the outlook requires close attention to regional differences, policy shifts and the channels through which energy, technology and fiscal risks affect growth.
More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:
Global Economic Outlook: August 2026
How AI Is Reshaping the Global Economic Outlook
Geopolitical Risk Brief: August 2026
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Monthly Macro Monitor: Global economy shrugging off persistent uncertainty
Recent economic resilience to shocks: So far so good, but don't take it for granted
Credits:
Host: Ken Wattret
Guests: Ben Herzon, Hanna Luchnikava-Schorsch, Rafael Amiel, Raj Badiani
Produced By: Debbie Taylor, Kristen Hallam
Edited By: Marz Marcello
Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

More than 90% of global trade moves by sea, but identifying who actually owns and controls the vessels behind that trade remains one of the maritime sector's biggest compliance challenges. In this episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam speaks with Jeremy Domballe, Product Director of Maritime Intelligence and Risk, about the hidden ownership crisis at sea and why beneficial ownership transparency matters for sanctions compliance, illegal fishing, money laundering risk and supply chain integrity.
 
Jeremy explains how complex corporate structures, shell companies, nominee arrangements and rapid ownership transfers can obscure the true decision-makers behind maritime assets. He also discusses why vessel tracking alone is not enough, how regulatory gaps create risk for governments and businesses, and why a more vessel-centric approach to due diligence — or "know your vessel" — is becoming essential.
 
What you'll hear in this episode:
Why beneficial ownership is one of the hardest maritime risks to identify clearly
The limits of vessel tracking and port security when ownership data is opaque
The business, legal, reputational and operational risks of engaging with vessels tied to hidden owners
Practical steps regulators, port authorities, financial institutions and maritime companies can take to improve transparency
Why "know your vessel" due diligence may become increasingly important for maritime risk management


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Click here to access the latest Maritime State of Play report
The Gulf Puzzle: Strategic Implications for Global Shipping Networks
Transshipment: Frequently Asked Questions
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Chokepoints vs. shortcuts: Supply chain outlook for critical maritime routes
Red Sea maritime and aviation risks
Credits:
Host: Kristen Hallam
Guests: Jeremy Domballe
Produced By: Kristen Hallam
Edited By: Marz Marcello
Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of The Decisive, host Kristen Hallam shares highlights from a July 15 webinar on how Gulf Cooperation Council economies are adapting to trade disruption, infrastructure risk and shifting growth priorities. S&P Global Market Intelligence experts Kevjn Lim, Chris Rogers and Jamil Nayyem join Ralf Wiegert to discuss how the region is moving beyond immediate disruption toward longer-term questions about resilience, trade continuity and economic diversification.
The conversation explores the practical limits of alternative routes around the Strait of Hormuz; the role of pipelines, ports, rail and corridor connectivity; and the implications for supply chains that depend on Middle East petrochemicals and other industrial inputs. The panel also examines what recent PMI data suggest about supply conditions across the GCC, how infrastructure investment could support non-oil growth, and why geopolitical uncertainty, fiscal pressure and execution risk may shape the pace of recovery.
Topics covered include:
How global buyers have responded to disruption in Middle East trade flows, including the different recovery paths for energy products, petrochemicals and industrial materials.
The distinction between temporary workarounds and permanent bypass infrastructure around the Strait of Hormuz.
Why pipelines, export terminals, port rerouting, rail links and multimodal corridors could make Gulf trade routes more layered and diversified.
How June PMI data point to tentative improvements in supply conditions across parts of the GCC, while demand and confidence remain sensitive to geopolitical conditions.
What resilience-led investment could mean for logistics hubs, industrial zones, port operators, freight forwarders, manufacturers and regional value chains.
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Midyear Economic Check-In
Geopolitical Risk Brief: July 2026
Global outlook marred by further slide in emerging market business confidence
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Middle East war 
Red Sea maritime and aviation risks
Credits:
Hosts: Kristen Hallam, Ralf Wiegert
Guests: Kevjn Lim, Jamil Naayem, Chris Rogers
Produced By: Debbie Taylor, Kristen Hallam
Edited By: Marz Marcello
Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of The Decisive, host Paul Smith is joined by senior economists Andrew Harker and Phil Smith to discuss the latest signals from the global Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI™) data and what they reveal about the direction of the world economy.
The conversation revisits key themes from the previous PMI episode, including stockpiling, uncertainty, supply chain disruption and inflation risks linked to the tensions in the Middle East and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The economists explain how recent PMI data suggest some easing in inflation pressures and uncertainty, although both remain elevated compared with historical norms.
The episode also explores why high-frequency PMI data can be especially valuable during periods of economic volatility, helping businesses, policymakers and forecasters assess turning points before slower-moving official data becomes available. Paul discusses how PMI signals can be combined with broader macroeconomic projections to provide a clearer view of both near-term conditions and longer-term trends.
Other topics include the outlook for the eurozone economy, global export conditions, the continued impact of tariffs, and the divergence between weaker PMI export readings and stronger official export data driven in part by AI-related demand. Phil and Andrew highlight how the AI boom is showing up in semiconductor prices, manufacturing performance and capital expenditure intentions, particularly in the US.
The episode closes with a look ahead to future PMI research on AI adoption and its impact on the workforce. This is the final episode before the summer break, with The Decisive returning in August for more insights and analysis.

More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:
PMI data and commentary
Global Economic Outlook: July 2026
Click here to learn how the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) and the World Economic Service (WES) help corporate planners interpret shifting global growth signals
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Middle East war
Policy rate prospects
Credits:
Host: Paul Smith
Guests: Andrew Harker, Phil Smith
Produced By: Kristen Hallam
Edited By: Marz Marcello
Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun