EFB firmly roots its analysis of business within the context of macroeconomics. This approach helps to shine additional light on developments within a specific industry, geographic region or thematic area such as sustainability. Macroeconomic analysis can also provide a basis for future expectations for producer and consumer behaviour. EFB’s analysis takes a fresh look at trends in income, employment, productivity, government finances, stock markets, international trade and currency markets, at a global, regional, national and even sub-national level to inform its outlook for business.

Between the macroeconomics of regions and countries, and the microeconomics of companies, EFB’s industry-level analysis looks at performance and prospects for crucial value chains. Using the same structure applied in its macroeconomic analysis, EFB assesses industries in a broad context that includes inputs, processing activities, outputs, trade and support activities. A particular focus is reserved for sustainability-related developments.

No worthy analysis of business can ignore the performance of major companies within their key industries and geographic regions. For now, EFB’s company-level analysis is focused on an aggregate view of stock market performance and financial reporting, as well as relevant updates regarding sustainability targets, significant acquisitions and other transactions. EFB plans to enrich its coverage of companies to include a data-centred analysis of company financial reports shortly.

“Big data” tools make it possible to analyse a quantity of information that would have previously seemed impossibly large to arrive at fresh, unexpected insights. In an uncertain world, the ability to consider a higher volume of data, cope with messier inputs and find new correlations is critical to timely, effective analysis. With the technological possibilities brought by big data tools, EFB aims to distil insights for business from data that spans countries, industries and companies.