The consumer price index was up 0.4% in March from the prior month and gained 3.5% on an annual basis, with both numbers exceeding the estimate of economists surveyed by Dow Jones. Meanwhile, a core measure that strips out food and energy prices climbed 0.4% from the previous month and 3.8% from a year ago.

Investing in digital content is becoming essential for B2B brands wanting to meet customers' expectations and give them the best buying experience. B2B content strategist Lindsay Young details the benefits of creating digital resources for customers and how distributors can provide high-quality content and easy-to-navigate formats while minimizing sales talk.

February sales at wholesalers rose 2.3% in February after falling 1.4% a month earlier, while wholesale inventories grew 0.5% after falling 0.2% in January, according to Census Bureau data. Inventories of motor vehicles, lumber, professional equipment, metals and machinery increased, while petroleum and farm products declined. Given February's sales pace, wholesalers have roughly 1.34 months of inventory, slightly below the 1.36 reported in January.

Ecommerce platforms can streamline the ordering process by allowing customers to order 24/7. Such solutions can help distributors stay ahead of the competition, build customer relationships and grow revenue by making it easier for customers to place orders, writes Kristina Harrington, co-founder and CEO of digital technology provider GenAlpha Technologies.

Cargo volume at major US ports in May 2024 is likely to exceed 2 million 20-foot equivalent units, the highest volume of 2024, according to Hackett Associates and the National Retail Federation. The May forecast of 2.04 million units is the highest since the 2.06 million unit figure of October 2023.

Dave Kurlan, the author of "Baseline Selling" and CEO of Kurlan and Associates, offers tips on how to determine if salespeople are willing to take constructive criticism and improve their process. Kurlan writes that salespeople are coachable if they are strong in relationship building and responsibility—and trainable if they show a desire and commitment to succeed.

CEOs say they're having trouble navigating their company's futures because of potential effects from the upcoming presidential election. Of 147 CEOs polled April 2-4, they ranked business conditions in March down 4 percent in March to 6.3 (out of 10) a month ago, though the ranking was still above the 2023 average of 6.1.

The new Morning Consult “State of Workers” finds that more workers, 29%, prefer hybrid work to remote work, 23%, the first time in several years. Hybrid work is especially popular among Gen Z and Millennials, though only 12% of survey respondents said they have a hybrid job.

Research shows the benefits are clear: Companies that invest in their employees' professional development experience increased employee retention, improved performance and enhanced innovation. Join a select group of high-caliber professionals for an exclusive program designed to accelerate your career in wholesale distribution. This intensive, 5-day certificate program, led by seven expert faculty members from The Ohio State University, will equip students with the strategic skills and knowledge to navigate industry challenges, drive growth and lead with confidence. The Spring Session is April 29 - May 3, 2024. Learn More.

The NAW Company Roundtables are an exclusive community of thought leaders from Billion Dollar and Large Company distribution enterprises who congregate to network with non-competing peers in multiple lines of trade on key issues. Learn more about the many Roundtable event opportunities we offer, and how your leaders can get involved. Learn more.

Join us on May 22 at 1 pm ET for the next webinar in our "How-to with NAW" series. Each episode is a micro-revolution for your distribution business, delivering practical takeaways and actionable steps you can implement immediately.