The consumer price index in June decreased 0.1% from the previous month, while economists had predicted a 0.1% increase. Inflation was up 3% from a year earlier, coming in below expectations of 3.1%. The softer-than-expected reading will likely boost hopes of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Wholesale inventories jumped 0.6% in May, in line with previous estimates, building on the 0.2% increase in April, according to Commerce Department data. Inventories fell 0.5% on a year-over-year basis in May. Wholesaler sales increased 0.4% in May after a 0.2% increase the previous month, with the pace of sales in May putting businesses' inventory to sales ratio - the time it would take businesses to clear their current inventory - at 1.35 months, down from 1.39 a year earlier.

Shifts toward remote work have exposed the limitations of conventional wide-area networks, which struggle with increased demand for remote access and cloud connectivity due to bandwidth contention and traffic congestion, writes Alan Farrimond, vice president of sales for data center solutions at Wesco International. Farrimond notes that companies are moving toward software-defined wide-area network solutions, pointing out that such systems can improve traffic management, optimize application performance and enhance security.

Los Angeles-based Curri has introduced the Curri Route Planner, a software solution that optimizes routes and enhances logistics management for US distributors and shippers through real-time tracking, proof of delivery and detailed metrics and reporting. Chief Technology Officer Brian Gonzales says the tool will help streamline operations and enhance customer service.

Brands and retailers like Hanesbrands, Dollar General and Under Armour are stocking more in-demand products and removing others that aren't selling as quickly. The trend began during the pandemic to address supply chain challenges and has continued as companies seek to manage costs, reduce the need for discounting and focus on high-margin items. "More and more retailers are realizing that today's consumer no longer wants an endless aisle--they want the right aisle," said Candice Medeiros, an insight strategist with WGSN.

A facility in Shafter, Calif., that Walmart built in 2021, along with one opened recently in the Dallas area, are among five automated centers the company plans to use to distribute fresh food more rapidly and efficiently. Walmart also plans to expand four traditional distribution centers to automate the movement of perishables and retrofit a center in Florida.

AI and automation can help sales teams focus on building customer relationships and help optimize customer experience by predicting needs and creating a unified sales process, say Jacobi Zakrzewski of Luminos Labs and Kristen Thom of White Cup. Despite challenges in data management and skepticism about new technology, starting with manageable tech solutions and ensuring interoperability can lead to significant improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction and ensure successful digital transformation.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite hit record highs Wednesday, driven by investor optimism after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony hinting at interest-rate cuts. The S&P 500 recorded its sixth consecutive record close, while the Nasdaq recorded its seventh. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose, ending a two-day losing streak.

The labor market isn't driving inflation as much as it was earlier in the pandemic recovery, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says, agreeing with comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. While the job market was "initially very tight" after the pandemic, "now we have a strong labor market, one with fewer pressures that would create inflationary concern," Yellen has told the House Financial Services Committee.

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