Wholesale inventories decreased by 0.2% to $901.6 billion in November, and retail inventories increased by 0.3% to $827.5 billion in the same period, according to advance data from the Census Bureau. Wholesale inventories rose 0.9% from a year earlier, while retail inventories soared by 7.2% year over year. The trade deficit widened by $4.6 billion to $102.9 billion, driven by a $12 billion surge in imports that outpaced a $7.4 billion rise in exports.

Builders FirstSource has agreed to acquire Alpine Lumber, an employee-owned company with 21 locations in Colorado and New Mexico, allowing Builders FirstSource to expand its West Division footprint and boost lumber sales in the region. The deal is expected to close early next year, with Alpine CEO Hamid Taha staying on during the transition.

Companies are preparing for potential supply chain disruptions in 2025 amid labor unrest, including Amazon warehouse strikes and a possible dockworker strike at East and Gulf Coast ports. Industries that rely on just-in-time inventory need to implement contingency plans, says C.H. Robinson President Mike Short, while global shipper Maersk recently told clients to prepare to move containers off terminals ahead of the Jan. 15 deadline for port labor talks.

Reshoring is gaining momentum, with 81% of CEOs and COOs planning to cut their reliance on extended supply chains. "[T]he question for company leaders is no longer whether to reinvent supply chains but how to do that so their operations are made more cost-competitive, resilient, sustainable, and agile in responding to evolving markets and customer needs," says Hernan Saenz from Bain & Company.

B2B marketers are expected to focus on AI-driven personalization, video content and private communities in 2025. Members of the Forbes Communications Council highlight trends such as hyperpersonalized microcontent, empathy in messaging and influencer collaborations as key strategies to engage audiences and build brand loyalty.

You should periodically focus on your company's negatives to identify opportunities and threats, writes innovation advisor Larry Robertson. There are three key advantages to such exercises, Robertson writes, including allowing employees to be honest about their challenges, seeing your business in a new light and uncovering new ways to adapt to industry changes.

Join us in Washington, D.C., January 27-29 for NAW's Executive Summit, bringing together the best and brightest leaders from the wholesale distribution industry. Learn more here.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW’s premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.