Consumer confidence decline slightly in June, with The Conference Board's index falling to 100.4 from 101.3 a month earlier. Economic growth and a strong labor market have not been enough to boost consumers' confidence in where the broader economy is heading. Despite an uptick in the present conditions index, the future expectations index fell. "Confidence pulled back in June but remained within the same narrow range that's held throughout the past two years," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board.

Omnia Partners has added eight industrial distributors, including Grainger, Lawson and MSC Industrial Supply, to its Opus ecommerce platform for nonprofits and public agencies, which provides pricing and contract terms for millions of products. "The user-friendly experience and functionality of our platform is solving the staffing constraints and high demands being placed on buying organizations," says Omnia Partners CEO Todd Abner.

Amazon Business has upgraded and launched features designed to simplify and streamline procurement for large organizations. New features include the Amazon Business App Center, integrated quoting and cross-domain identity management, while the budget management and guided buying solutions have been updated.

Shipping congestion and costs are surging due to attacks in the Red Sea forcing vessel diversions, drought in the Panama Canal and possible US dockworker strikes, with ports being affected globally and the average cost of shipping a 40-foot container increasing to $4,119, more than triple the cost from last year. Businesses are also facing more delays, forcing some to turn to airfreight to meet demand ahead of the peak shipping season in the coming months.

The US Census shows that although retail spending edged up 0.1% last month, it has decreased 1.3% in the previous three months from a year ago, indicating that inflation and a cooling job market are weighing on consumer sentiment. A McKinsey survey has found that 76% of consumers are shopping around for lower prices or are switching to cheaper brands and around one-third of consumers plan to reduce spending across a number of categories.

Achieving effective communication between information technology and operational technology is a significant hurdle for one-third of respondents to a Zebra Technologies survey about digital transformation, while almost 60% of manufacturers have a goal of improving supply chain visibility by 2029. Four primary resources they plan to use for long-term improvement include robotics, machine vision, radio frequency identification and fixed industrial scanners, according to the report.

Peter Hillowe, vice president of commercial at Manifest, urges business-to-business marketers to more effectively engage prospects via video, explaining how to develop a video content strategy and maximize the benefits of generative AI. "Experimenting with unconventional formats, such as music videos, creative keynote videos, and trend-inspired videos, can challenge the traditional corporate tone prevalent in B2B sectors and will help your brand stand out," Hillowe writes.

The number of workers planning to switch jobs in the next 12 months is on the rise, jumping to 28%, above the 'Great Resignation' period of 2022, according to a PwC survey of 56,000 workers. The survey highlights a growing trend of employees embracing generative AI and prioritizing upskilling amid increasing workloads and workplace changes. Experts stress the need for businesses to invest in skills growth and technology to retain talent.

The defining trait of highly successful individuals is adaptability, and it is a rare skill to find in employees, says Harvard professor Joseph Fuller based on his decade-long research. "They're not wedded to some predetermined career path that they set when they were a student or starting their first job," says Fuller. "They're open to unexpected opportunities and embrace change instead of fearing it."

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