Tariff worries have significantly slowed mergers and acquisitions activity in early 2025, with the fewest deals completed since 2005, according to Dealogic data. The total deal value has dropped by 43% compared to its peak in 2021. Companies and investors are hesitant to proceed with M&A due to uncertainty surrounding the impact of Trump administration policies, particularly tariffs, which complicate predictions of future business performance.

Private sector payrolls gained 77,000 jobs last month, down sharply from January and well below the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 148,000, according to ADP. "Our data, combined with other recent indicators, suggests a hiring hesitancy among employers as they assess the economic climate ahead," said Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist.

B2B e-commerce site sales increased 10.5% in 2024 to $2.3 trillion and are expected to grow an average of 7.8% annually, reaching $3 trillion by 2028, according to a Forrester Consulting survey. B2B e-commerce is projected to make up 27.5% of electronic sales and 14.3% of total product sales by 2028, an increase from 23.7% and 12% in 2024, respectively, due to trends in buyer behavior, third-party marketplaces and artificial intelligence.

The federal administration's recent tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico -- and retaliatory tariffs from the affected countries -- could disrupt food industry supply chains, industry experts warn as companies work to source alternative suppliers for key products. "For supply chain officers, uncertainty and dealing with shocks to the system is the name of the game. Whether it's storms in a certain geography or, now, tariffs," says Sysco chief merchandising officer Victoria Gutierrez.

COVID-19 tested and reshaped supply chains in unprecedented ways, revealing remarkable resilience despite initial disruptions. Manufacturers, distributors and supply chain managers quickly adapted to fluctuating demand, particularly for semiconductors and ecommerce goods, by finding new sources and distributors, increasing inventories and using automation, leaving supply chains better prepared for future challenges.

Fees as high as $1.5 million are being considered for Chinese-built or Chinese-flagged ships entering US ports in a bid to counter China's dominance in global shipbuilding and stimulate the US shipbuilding sector. The US Trade Representative's office, which initiated the investigation during the Biden administration, is seeking to weaken China's grip on maritime industries. Such fees could significantly increase operating costs for ocean carriers, impacting freight rates for US companies.

Three-fourths of salespeople offer discounts when faced with price objections, a tactic that may stem from a lack of training in selling value and the authority to discount extensively, according to a survey by Paul Reilly. He advises salespeople to shift discussions from price to the total cost of ownership -- demonstrating value beyond the initial price -- and eliminate discounting authority to encourage value selling and enhance profitability.

Companies are skimping on workforce tech such as videoconferencing and collaboration tools, putting productivity and employee well-being at risk, according to a Diversified survey of more than 1,600 US employees. The survey indicates that 89% of employees use personal devices for work because they are easier to use, creating cybersecurity issues, and 88% say their company's technology limits creativity.

The New York Fed's Multivariate Core Trend inflation measure, which highlights inflation persistence, rose to 2.86% in January after registering 2.63% in December. The data runs counter to the suggestion from the PCE price index that inflation is cooling. The increase is driven by non-housing services and core goods, indicating a shift in price pressures.

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