The White House's aggressive regulatory approach has been met with steep resistance and a bevy of legal challenges. Efforts to finalize key regulations, such as climate risk disclosures and noncompete clause bans, are in limbo after Supreme Court rulings and a potential shift in political power adds further uncertainty. Businesses are struggling to navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Industrial distribution mergers and acquisition activity in August was strong with 36 pending or completed deals reported, the second-highest month this year. Key transactions included Performance Food Group's $2.1 billion acquisition of Cheney Bros. as well as deals from Core & Main, Beacon, Cook & Boardman and Imperial Dade. The year-to-date total reached 236 deals, outpacing the previous year's average.

US consumer sentiment ticked upward for the first time in five months, rising to 67.9 from 66.4 in July, driven by slower inflation and anticipation of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Consumers expect lower price increases in the coming year, but concerns remain due to high borrowing costs, reduced hiring and a higher cost of living. Despite the sentiment boost, buying plans for durable goods declined and views on current personal finances remain low.

Distribution agreements often include indemnification clauses to clarify responsibility for claims and liabilities, and understanding and negotiating these clauses is essential for effective risk management, writes Fred Mendelsohn, a partner at Chicago-based Burke, Warren MacKay & Serritella. Such agreements cover areas such as product liability, intellectual property infringement and breach of contract, and typically include limitations on the amount and types of damages recoverable as well as exclusions for gross negligence and willful misconduct.

Despite facing significant challenges, including geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters and labor disputes, global supply chains have managed to maintain near-record import volumes. Companies have adapted by diversifying suppliers, placing orders earlier and increasing inventory levels, which have made supply chains more resilient, although potential labor strikes and high container costs continue to pose risks.

Some 76% of business-to-business marketers report feeling more pressure to deliver results, while 69% say they were asked to achieve more with less over the last year, according to a study by Bospar, Redpoint Content and CMO Huddles. Those factors have resulted in negative personal consequences such as exercising less and taking less vacation time. The study also found that 54% say buying cycles are longer, and 41% note that layoffs have affected their marketing departments.

Databases storing unstructured data and large language models could expose corporate data to risks including leakage and poisoning, according to researchers from Legit Security. The report says those areas underpinning AI applications are especially vulnerable and that in some cases could be accessed with no permission enforcement.

Some experts say they see little likelihood of a fourth-quarter increase in US consumer spending, despite the interest-rate cut expected this month. Spence Mehl of RCS Real Estate Advisors notes that consumer spending is a lagging economic indicator, and EY chief economist Gregory Daco forecasts that "[h]ouseholds will spend more prudently as labor market conditions and income growth soften further."

Ferguson has used its private label strategy to drive significant growth across various sectors, including plumbing, HVACR and industrial. Private label products, which offer higher margins and competitive pricing, account for 8.6% of revenue. The plumbing and HVAC distribution giant strives to balance its private label initiatives with branded manufacturer partnerships to avoid alienating key partners.

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