Producer prices jumped a higher-than-expected 0.2% in June compared to the previous month and increased 2.6% from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department's producer price index. Prices of goods declined 0.5%, while services costs rose 0.6% on the back of a 1.9% increase in costs at wholesalers and retailers. The core PPI, which excludes food and energy, was unchanged.

The warehouse labor market may be stabilizing after prolonged choppiness, per the 2024 State of Warehouse Labor report from Instawork. More than one-third of warehouse operators reported an easier time staffing than in previous years but there are still difficulties staffing, with 40% of those surveyed saying they face potential revenue losses due to staffing. Companies have increased pay and are adopting technology such as AI to alleviate staffing issues.

Specialty building products distributor Gypsum Management & Supply finalized its acquisition of Ontario, Canada-based Yvon Building Supply and related entities. GMS' nearly $150 million purchase of the drywall, insulation and steel provider is expected to boost its offerings in the Toronto market. "We are excited to welcome the Yvon team to GMS Canada and look forward to expanding our Core and Complementary Products in southern Ontario," said GMS CEO John Turner Jr.

Jacobi Robotics, based in Berkeley, Calif., has launched AI-powered software that promises to slash the time it takes to program robotic arms for palletizing from months to a single day. The software, which works with solutions from the four leading robotic arm manufacturers, uses deep learning and traditional robotics methods to plan efficient and safe stacking patterns. The software also aims to reduce the risk of injury associated with manual palletizing, a common source of workplace injuries.

RMI and the North American Council for Freight Efficiency released a report on opportunities and barriers to deploy commercial electric vehicles, noting that only 10% of the marketplace is represented by long-haul trucks. "The vehicles are there, the infrastructure is starting to be there, the standardization is starting to be there, and we just need to not confuse the argument by focusing on the 10% of the vehicles at the bottom of this deck," said NACFE's Rick Mihelic.

Difference is not only the top driver of pricing power for business-to-business brands, it's also the top factor in powering exceptional business outcomes, according to research by Kantar BrandZ. B2B marketers can set their brands apart through thought leadership, distinctive messaging and spotlighting unique product or service benefits, advises Kantar BrandZ's Jenny Peters, pointing to B2B brands like Intel that are getting differentiation right.

Content marketers share how they blended art and science to effectively engage audiences, including Raconteur's Tom Watts, who talks about a MailChimp campaign to attract tech-savvy business-to-business decision-makers. "Science helps you to start sketching the pathway and it works as reassurance that the steps you're taking are the right ones, but art is what brings a campaign to life," Watts writes, adding, "It's how you turn content about email marketing into engaging, human stories that readers will connect with."

Economist Richard Baldwin's 2023 statement, "AI won't take your job. It's somebody using AI that will take your job," highlights the need for a collaborative human-AI workforce with clear policies emphasizing accountability and experimentation. Leaders need to create a forward-thinking workplace that doesn't fear AI but sees its potential for creating a more productive work environment.

The pandemic-era trend of job hopping appears to be over, with multiple surveys now showing that fewer US adults are looking to leave their current positions. "People feel really satisfied with their compensation and they are very happy with their flexibility, which are two big drivers," says Dawn Fay of Robert Half. In addition, potential job switchers must grapple with a tightening labor market.

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