The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents 29 ports, have reached an agreement following months of contentious negotiations and work disruptions that's set to last for six years if ratified by rank-and-file employees, ocean shipping firms and terminal operators. Both sides said acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su "played a key role" in advancing negotiations and President Biden said the agreement shows that "collective bargaining works."
Import prices fell 5.9% in May on a year-over-year basis, marking the sharpest annual drop since May 2020, according to the Labor Department. Import prices have declined on a year-over-year basis in each of the last four months, including a 4.9% drop in April.
Retail sales gained 0.3% in May from the prior month and 1.6% from the same month last year, according to the Commerce Department, highlighting consumers' willingness to spend despite inflation and an uncertain economy. Grocery, furniture and electronics stores saw more sales, while gas purchases dropped last month, perhaps due to lower prices at the pump.
Supply chain instability remains a cause for concern in 2023 despite some signs of a shift back to pre-pandemic normality, a new report from the Association for Supply Chain Management and KPMG argues. The growing threats posed by cyberattacks, climate change and poor labor relations point to an unpredictable outlook, says Douglas Kent, executive vice president of strategy and alliances for ASCM.
Continuing a slowing trend that got under way in 2022, VCs invested $2.4 billion in supply chain tech startups in this year's first quarter, representing an 81.8% year-over-year decline, according to PitchBook. However, "Across stages, angel and seed deals saw a slight improvement in Q1, rising 3.6%," PitchBook said.
Traditional secure email gateways are no longer stopping savvy threat actors, who write around them to avoid detection, and Mike Britton, chief information security officer of Abnormal Security, offers three ways organizations can thwart social engineering threats. Keep skepticism top of mind, reduce attack surfaces and employ artificial intelligence to detect deviations from normal user behaviors, Britton writes.
Establishing a new sales channel can be just the thing a retailer or brand needs to move things to the next level. It offers another path for distributing your goods and can also help you gain exposure among previously untapped audiences, both of which hold tremendous potential for increased revenue.
Whether you are contemplating getting into the direct-to-consumer space, entering an online marketplace, working with a retail partner, or exploring other avenues, there are a few key factors to consider first.
Yum Yum Videos' Victor Blasco outlines seven business-to-business video marketing lessons using examples from B2B brands. Blasco explains how eye-catching visuals, such as those used by Microsoft 365 can differentiate brands, how to use humor like Adobe and how to use niche insights like Volvo Trucks.
More company leaders are coming to grips with the ethical issues of artificial intelligence and what it will mean for their business in the realms of strategy, workflow and innovation, but they must also pay attention to the anxiety it may be provoking in their workforce and be proactive. "Knowing that AI will change many roles in the workforce, CEOs should encourage people to embrace experimentation with the technology and communicate the upskilling opportunities for them to work in tandem with the AI, rather than be replaced by it," says Anthony Abbatiello, workforce transformation practice lead at PwC.
A person's character is an important component when asked to offer a recommendation for a leadership role, writes leadership coach John Baldoni. Integrity, intellect and inclusion say a lot on their own and offer room to expand on specific actions, as do commitment, courage and compassion, Baldoni writes.
