US consumer price index up 0.4% for Sept. | Fastenal reports Q3 results, Broersma to oversee supply chain | FTC's case against Amazon could take years to resolve
The consumer price index rose 0.4% month on month in September and 3.7% from a year ago, slightly higher than the 0.3% rise markets were expecting, due largely to rising housing costs. Core inflation was also up 0.3% compared to August.
Fastenal reported upbeat third-quarter financial results with $1.84 billion in revenue and better-than-expected earnings amid higher demand for heavy manufacturing equipment and onsite products. Separately, the company promoted Anthony Broersma to executive vice president of operations to oversee supply chain, ecommerce and logistics.
The FTC's antitrust lawsuit against Amazon puts the onus on the agency to prove that the online retailer is a monopoly, engages in anti-competitive behavior and squeezes third-party sellers through fees and services. A final decision is likely years away if it isn't first dismissed, dropped or settled. California filed a similar lawsuit last year that is slated for a 2026 trial, and the District of Columbia had an antitrust suit dismissed last year.
Modern Distribution Management (tiered subscription model)
(10/10)
Engage your audience through performance marketing It's more difficult than ever for brands to engage their customers meaningfully and make a lasting impression. Learn how performance marketing helps brands build consumer loyalty through both digital and physical channels. Download now.
Price optimization requires distributors to continuously monitor the marketplace to determine the most effective pricing for a product or service to retain customers and drive growth, writes Mitch Lee of Vendavo. Lee suggests companies invest in employees with strong analytical skills to sift through data, move toward a value-based pricing model and adopt AI technology to identify patterns and forecast customer preferences.
Container import volumes in the US bucked traditional declines in September with a .3% increase over August to total 2,203,452 20-foot equivalent units, but remained .6% lower than Sept. 2022, according to Descartes Systems Group, which attributed the shift to rising imports from China and the Panama Canal drought. The research firm also reports wait times have normalized at West Coast ports while they've increased on the East Coast.
Matches of anonymized email and postal addresses among data providers used for ad targeting and measurement are accurate 51% of the time, but range from 32% to 69%, per research from Truthset and The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement. Mismatches are primarily driven by the age of the data, as well as buyers worrying less about quality and more on using the largest possible data pools, says Truthset CEO Scott McKinley.
Sales managers who are an integral part of training rather than an add-on are more effective because they "provide consistent and impactful coaching" that sinks in, writes the Rain Group's Andy Springer, co-author of "Virtual Selling." Springer explains how to create a "coaching rhythm," use simulated learning and ensure accountability, which can show "remarkable performance over time" and lead to higher employee retention.
Build -- or regain -- trust among your team by modeling transparency, vulnerability, dependability and authenticity, writes Michael McFall, co-founder and co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. "In a world where fleeting metrics and superficial achievements often take the spotlight, it's essential to remember that genuine, lasting success in any organization is built on trust," McFall writes.
Mergers and acquisitions worth over $100 million increased in Q3, but deals worth over $1 billion were down markedly from recent years. Overall M&A activity remains low due in part to rising interest rates, increased antitrust scrutiny and cautious lenders, and while activity is expected to improve in the final quarter of the year, there is little margin for error in deals and companies need to navigate accelerated due diligence processes.
Attending the Innovators Summit lets you stay updated with the latest industry developments and remain ahead of your competitors. By being aware of emerging trends and disruptive technologies, you can proactively adapt your business strategies, identify new revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Learn more.
