Navigating Market Volatility: Iran, Consumer Confidence, and AI Recruitment Trends | Weekly Business Briefs w/ Martin Perdomo

The global economic landscape is shifting rapidly as three major developments converge to challenge businesses and investors. First, escalating tensions between the US and Iran have brought us to the brink of a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil markets into volatility with Brent crude touching $97 per barrel—up from $84 just two weeks ago. White House projections suggest prices could exceed $120 per barrel if a full closure materializes, triggering inflation spikes and supply chain disruptions across industries.

Meanwhile, consumer sentiment has taken an unexpected downturn, with the US Consumer Confidence Index falling to 93.0% in June from 98.4% in May, well below economists' projections. The data reveals troubling signs: fewer Americans believe jobs are plentiful, income expectations are declining, and the six-month business outlook has turned negative for the first time this year. This isn't merely an academic indicator—it signals potential changes in consumer spending patterns that could affect sales cycles, margins, and investment returns in the coming quarters.

The third major shift transforming business comes from technology, as artificial intelligence revolutionizes hiring practices at scale. Major companies like Amazon, Unilever, and Delta are now using machine learning to automate substantial portions of their recruitment processes, with algorithms filtering out 70% of applicants before human review. For business leaders, this presents both efficiency opportunities and ethical challenges; for job seekers, it fundamentally changes the application game. Whether you're building a company, managing investments, or navigating career transitions, staying ahead of these converging trends requires strategic adaptation rather than reactive responses. Follow me on Instagram @TheEliteStrategist for more real-time insights and visit WealthyAFmedia to access our free tools that can help you position yourself advantageously in this changing landscape.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Business Headlines
• 0:19 Iran Crisis Impacts Oil Markets
• 1:34 Declining Consumer Confidence Report
• 3:09 Wealthy AF Media Promotion
• 4:10 AI Revolutionizing Hiring Practices
• 5:27 Episode Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome back to the Wealthy AF Business Brief where we break down the latest business and economic trends that impact your investments and entrepreneurship journey. I'm your host, tv strategist Martin Perdomo, and today we've got three major stories making headlines, so let's dive in. Following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, iran's parliament has authorized a closure of the Strait of Horm. This briefing geopolitical risk has already jolted oil markets. The numbers Brent crude briefly touched $97 per barrel on June 24, up from $84 just two weeks ago. Us energy future climbed 6.2% in the last five trading sessions. The White House estimates a full closure could spike oil prices past $120 per barrel, triggering a 0.7% jump in the US. Inflation Rising energy costs rippled through every supply chain. If you're managing a business with shipping, production or fuel exposure, start modeling for volatility in Q3.

Speaker 1: 1:34

According to the Conference Board, the US Consumer Confidence Index fell 93.0% in June, down from 98.4% in May and well below economists' expectations of 100%. The decline was driven by concerns about business conditions and income outlook. The numbers consumers who said jobs were plentiful dropped to 38.1% from 41.5% last month. The percentage expecting income increases fell to 16.7%, down from 18.3%. The six-month business outlook turned negative for the first time since early 2024. Why this matters? Well, this matters because falling consumer confidence often leads to reduced spending, longer sales cycles and tighter margins, affecting both sales and investment returns. For entrepreneurs, it's a signal to shift toward value-driven offers and optimize cash flow. For investors, it's a cue to reassess exposure to consumer-driven sectors and prepare for potential earning downgrades or market pullbacks. This isn't panic-worthy, though, but it's absolutely strategic. If you wait for the lagging indicators, you'll miss the inflection point. Smart operators adjust marketing, capital reserves and hiring ahead of the curve.

Speaker 1: 3:09

We'll get back to the business brief in just a moment, but let's pause for something that might change your path. If you're building income, scaling real estate or just tired of playing small in your financial life, I want you to tap into what we're doing behind the scenes. Come hang with me on Instagram at the Elite Strategist. That's where I share real-time insights, deal breakdowns and behind-the-curtain moves we don't put anywhere else. You'll also find links to subscribe to our Wealthy AF newsletter on my main page. You'll get early access to upcoming live events and grab my free deal analyzer, a tool that's helped me and our clients spot profitable investments in literally minutes. If you're curious about how we help everyday people build real wealth with strategy and execution. Head over to WealthyAFmedia and explore what's possible.

Speaker 1: 4:08

Now let's get back to the headlines. A new report highlights how AI is reshaping hiring at scale. From screening resumes to conducting first round interviews, major employers like Amazon, unilever and Delta are now automating large portions of their recruitment funnels using machine learning and natural language processing tools. This is scary and also amazing at the same time. Scary if you're not paying attention and amazing if you are. The numbers Over 45% of Fortune 500 companies now use AI in some stage of hiring.

Speaker 1: 4:50

Resume filtering algorithms can cut applicants pooled by 70% before humans can review. Only 28% of companies have clear internal guidelines on AI hiring ethics or transparency. For founders and leaders, this is a hiring revolution, but also a risk. Use AI to streamline, but stay human in your judgment, boy, don't? We know that, as we in our company use AI and if you're applying, know how to optimize your application, so the tools reading it before the people do. That's it for today's business brief. As always, stay sharp, stay informed to keep your business ahead of the curve. Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next week with more insights and updates from the world of finance, economics. Peace out.