US factory orders fell by 3.6% in January amid reduced demand for passenger planes, according to US Census Bureau data. Excluding the transportation sector, orders for manufactured goods dropped 0.8%, indicating broader manufacturing weakness as the industry continues to contend with shifting consumer spending and the impact of higher interest rates.

Specialty building materials distributor US LBM has acquired building component manufacturer Homestead Building Systems in Virginia, giving US LBM two truss manufacturing locations in that state, five locations of Homestead's Barrons brand in the Washington, D.C., area, and two facilities under the Massey Builders Supply name. US LBM CEO L.T. Gibson said the deal would expand its truss and wall panel manufacturing capabilities "to support the growing housing markets in the greater D.C. metro area and eastern Virginia."

Earnings among smaller private middle market companies were down 20% between 2019 and 2022 and bankruptcies were filed as much as four times more often than their larger counterparts, which experienced an average 20% earnings boost, according to RapidRatings. James Gellert, Rapid Ratings executive chair, attributes the disparity to a variety of factors, including profit margin squeezes, financing options and collaboration opportunities.

More companies are looking for creative financing methods in their supply chains as inflation has raised prices for inventory, says Maureen Sullivan, head of supply chain finance with MUFG Americas. Supply chain financing can provide better credit terms when companies agree to earlier payments to suppliers.

The global ocean shipping industry is facing unprecedented risks due to rising geopolitical tensions, protectionism and climate change, former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned. "There are going to be global tensions ... and I think global dangers, at a level we haven't seen since the end of World War II," Gates told an industry gathering.

Between perishable goods and customer demand, effective inventory control is a critical aspect of the food and beverage industry, as poor management can lead to food waste, a dip in overall product quality and profit loss. Among top strategies to ensure minimum spoilage and maximum inventory efficiency include a first-in, first-out policy where items are sold or used in the order they come in, using seasonal data to predict demand for products, shelf life monitoring and regular inventory audits.

More and more business-to-business marketing executives are using influencer marketing, with LinkedIn a go-to platform, fueled by brands tapping into new formats and creators incentivized by the new creator mode, Creator Accelerator Program. LinkedIn has "deprioritized content like work anniversary posts ... and really started to elevate that high-value content on the platform, most of which is really coming from these creators," says Insider Intelligence's Jasmine Enberg.

When a business is dealing with constant employee turnover and the need to train new workers, it can take a toll on service quality and remaining staff, writes Dave Ragosa, vice president of franchising and development at Ford's Garage. Ways to address turnover include examining factors that could be causing departures, helping employees advance in their careers and prioritizing transparency and support for staff members.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is set to finalize a scaled-back version of its controversial climate disclosure proposal this week. The proposal will mandate public company disclosure of climate-related information, including oversight of climate-related risks, climate risks' impact on strategy, and greenhouse gas emissions. The final rule is expected to scale back or exclude the most controversial component -- Scope 3 emission disclosures, related to supply chains.

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