US consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level since 2021 in March as inflation and tariff fears deepened, signaling growing economic pessimism despite steady spending. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index declined 7.2 points to 92.9, marking the fourth consecutive month-to-month drop. Short-term income, business and job market expectations dropped to the lowest level since 2013, and well below the 80 mark that can point toward a recession.

Core & Main, a distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products, announced a leadership shakeup alongside its latest quarterly earnings results. Steve LeClair, who has led the company for nearly 20 years, is stepping down from the chief executive role to become executive chairman of the board. Finance chief Mark Witkowski will succeed LeClair as CEO. Robyn Bradbury, senior vice president of finance and investor relations, will replace Witkowski as CFO.

Global Industrial said it formed a multiyear partnership with arena and live venue developer Oak View Group. The deal will see Global Industrial become the primary supplier of industrial products for more than 400 venues across North America. "We are excited to partner with a world class organization like OVG and support its efforts to deliver exceptional in person experiences at their venues," said Lisa Armstrong, chief marketing officer at Global Industrial.

Amid tariffs and rising global tensions, 68% of supply chain leaders say they are prioritizing onshoring, while 77% say they lack resources to effectively manage their supply chains and 88% report that parts sourcing is hindering new product introduction, according to Fictiv's 10th Annual 2025 State of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Report. "We're seeing a level of global uncertainty and supply chain disruption we haven't seen since 2020," says Dave Evans, co-founder and CEO of Fictiv.

Business leaders are increasingly prioritizing supply chain resilience, considering it as important as cybersecurity, according to Cleo's 2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Report. The report highlights that 93% of executives plan to use automation, 66% emphasize real-time data for better decision-making, and 55% are considering AI to enhance customer experience. Rising geopolitical tensions and customer expectations are major factors driving these strategies.

The rise of agentic AI is set to transform web traffic, with Gartner predicting that AI agents will account for 20% of "human-readable" web storefronts by 2028, writes Rellify CEO Peter Kraus. This shift could prompt websites to become more informational, brand-oriented and immersive to engage human users looking for more interesting experiences as their bots manage the transactional, Kraus explains.

Business leaders are growing increasingly concerned about President Trump's unpredictable trade policies, which have led to significant market volatility and a decline in consumer sentiment. While Trump's initial tax and regulatory cuts were welcomed, his recent tariff threats, particularly against Canada and Mexico, have raised fears of higher prices and weaker economic growth. Executives are hesitant to speak out publicly but are worried about the long-term impact on their industries and the broader economy.

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