Import prices fell for the second month in a row, with increases in fuel costs more than offset by declines in other sectors to provide a 0.2% decline from the prior month. Import prices in June were down 6.1% from a year earlier, while export prices fell 12.1%.
The International Longshore & Warehouse Union, which represents more than 7,000 workers in Canada, and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association settled on a new four-year deal following a nearly two-week strike. Workers were expected to return to the job Thursday evening. Experts predict it will take weeks or even months to clear up congestion from idling vessels and cargo containers.
A key consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan rose to 72.6 in July, outpacing expectations and reaching its highest level since September 2021. "The sharp rise in sentiment was largely attributable to the continued slowdown in inflation along with stability in labor markets," said survey director Joanne Hsu.
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Technology such as Application Programming Interface integration supercharges procurement's push toward an environmentally friendly circular economy, Josh Tsui of Floship writes. Supporting tech, such as advanced routing algorithms and comprehensive regulatory reporting suites, can weave circularity concepts throughout procurement areas.
KeHE Distributors will focus on investing in fresh products in the year ahead, and will tailor solutions for its customers that ensure greater supply chain success, said President and CEO Deb Conklin during a State of the Industry address at the 2023 KeHE Holiday Show in Chicago. The natural and organic, specialty and fresh products distributor's recent acquisition of DPI Specialty Foods brings its SKUs past 80,000 and gives it access to 19 distribution centers.
Zebra Technologies hopes to achieve more efficient movement of materials in factories and warehouses in coordination with human workers with its acquisition of Fetch Robotics, which specializes in autonomous mobile robots that convey materials. Zebra says it plans to integrate its various wearable products with Fetch's AMRs to better automate and coordinate otherwise labor-intensive picking and transporting functions.
A sales rep whose work isn't up to par may not grasp expectations, but sales managers can take a series of steps to augment understanding, Norman Behar, chairman of the Sales Readiness Group, writes. Behar also suggests ways to address gaps, provide feedback and highlight improvement, along with other tips for increasing a team member's performance.
Albert AI is launching to help support the ties between offline marketing and online sales. AI calculates the performance of formats, headlines and other campaign variables based on ongoing learnings, provides recommendations, optimizes campaigns and delivers them at optimal times.
Carrot-and-stick accountability doesn't work well across generations, but leaders can try a "more organic, employee-centric approach" by using a handful of strategies, writes leadership author and speaker Julie Winkle Giulioni. It's important to regain control, because accountability has an "outsized role in promoting productivity, driving results, enhancing engagement and building trust within teams," Winkle Giulioni explains.
Providing productive input for employees can make some managers uncomfortable, but it gets easier with practice and by following certain strategies, writes Murali Nethi, founder and CEO of flower-delivery marketplace SnapBlooms. "Even necessary criticism should maintain the other person's dignity and self-esteem," Nethi writes.
