US consumer prices rose 0.5% in January, surpassing expectations and pushing the annual inflation rate to 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Shelter costs and food prices, particularly for eggs, were significant contributors to the increase. The report might influence the Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates at their current level for longer, despite President Donald Trump's call for rate cuts.

Sixty percent of companies are overhauling supply chains in response to market volatility and tariff uncertainty, according to Relex Solutions' State of Supply Chain report. The report highlights challenges such as demand volatility, trade disruptions and lack of real-time data, prompting companies to expand supplier networks and invest in automation.

Winsupply, a Dayton, Ohio-based plumbing and HVAC distributor, has an entrepreneurial model that empowers local business ownership with strong corporate backing. The company operates over 170 decorative plumbing showrooms across the US that contribute significantly to its sales. The showrooms are managed like independent businesses focusing on customer experience and local market needs. Managers emphasize personalized service and building lasting relationships that differentiate them from online retailers.

President Donald Trump's recently announced tariffs against America's top trading partners threaten to upend supply chains and fuel job losses. Companies can boost their supply chain resilience by implementing short-term risk mitigation, medium-term structural adjustments, and long-term strategic investments in technology and production processes.

Gaia Dynamics has created a platform that uses AI to simplify cross-border regulation compliance. The platform can automatically assign harmonized tariff schedule codes with 92% accuracy in 30 seconds, check import and export tariffs and reduce compliance check time from 10 hours to two.

A study by Hokodo, the B2B Ecommerce Association and Greenwood Consulting shows that 84% of B2B buyers prefer vendors to offer availability across multiple channels, with 73% preferring webstores, digital marketplaces and mobile apps. However, 56% of buyers are returning to physical stores, with 23% preferring this channel. The study also highlights a shift in preferred payment methods, with 80% of buyers favoring bank transfers over card payments.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not defend a climate-disclosure rule created during the Biden administration. The rule, which has been challenged in court, would require publicly traded companies to supply investors with certain information about the effect of their operations on the environment.

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