Good morning, CFOs. Inflation is proving stickier than expected in the U.S. and Europe, creating a headache for central bankers and sowing doubts on whether investors are too optimistic about the world economy.

The decline in inflation from highs of around 9% to 10% across advanced economies in 2022 represent the easy gains, as supply-chain blockages eased and commodity prices, especially for energy, normalized.

The “last mile” is proving tougher. Underlying inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, slowed to 3% in the second half of last year across advanced economies but has since moved up to 3.5%, according to JP Morgan estimates.

Monday, April 1

Earnings: PVH

The Institute for Supply Management releases its Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for March.

The Census Bureau reports construction spending data for February.

Tuesday, April 2

Earnings: Paychex

General Electric spins off its power generation business, GE Vernova.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

Wednesday, April 3

Earnings: Levi Strauss

Walt Disney holds its annual shareholder meeting.

ADP releases its National Employment Report for March.

The ISM releases its Services PMI for March.

Thursday, April 4

Earnings: Conagra Brands, Lamb Weston Holdings and RPM International

Friday, April 5

The BLS releases the jobs report for March. The unemployment rate has been below 4% for more than two consecutive years, the first time that has happened since the late 1960s.

Cash-strapped Tupperware Brands is delaying its annual results due to internal control issues and a shortage of accountants that has been a growing challenge for companies’ finance teams.

The Orlando, Fla.-based reusable-container maker said in a filing Friday that its previous delays in filing its 2022 10-K annual report caused subsequent issues with its quarterly reports. The company said it filed its 2023 quarterly reports on Friday, but those delays pushed back work on its annual report.

• A team of engineers over the weekend started the complicated and painstaking process of clearing the wreckage of Maryland’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed on Tuesday and shut down one of the nation’s most vital ports.
• Ships have supersized since the Baltimore bridge was built.
• Exit bans have left foreign executives stuck inside China—often with no idea when they will be allowed to leave.
• The Senate plans to rework the recently passed House proposal to force a sale or ban of TikTok in the U.S., with ideas already circulating on Capitol Hill. 

📰 Other headlines

• Why Stellantis’s CEO Remains All-In on EVs as Others Retrench
• U.S. Tech Giants Turn to Mexico to Make AI Gear, Spurning China
• A Peter Thiel-Backed AI Startup Seeks $2 Billion Valuation
• For Data-Guzzling AI Companies, the Internet Is Too Small
• This Disney War Has Already Paid Off
• Video: Why Boeing’s Quality Controls Still Miss Mistakes

The Wall Street Journal's CFO Journal offers corporate leaders and professionals CFO analysis, advice and commentary to make informed decisions. We cover topics ranging from corporate tax accounting, regulation, capital markets, management and strategy.

Follow us on X @WSJCFO. The WSJ CFO Journal Team comprises reporters Kristin Broughton, Mark Maurer and Jennifer Williams, and Bureau Chief Walden Siew.

You can reach us by replying to any newsletter, or email Walden at walden.siew@wsj.com.