A broad gauge of inflation slowed in March, ahead of President Donald Trump's tariff implementations. The consumer price index decreased by a seasonally adjusted 0.1% from the previous month and increased 2.4% from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A core measure excluding energy and food costs jumped 0.1% from the previous month and 2.8% year over year, marking the slowest rise in core CPI in four years.

Building material distributor ABC Supply has opened new locations in Bartlesville, Okla., and Sterling Heights, Mich., bringing its total locations to more than 1,000. ABC also announced a pair of promotions. Matt Belcher has been elevated to vice president of the Southwest region covering seven states, including Texas, Kansas and Louisiana, and Scott Toumbleston has been named vice president of the eight-state Southeast region, which includes Alabama, Florida and North Carolina.

Amazon is reportedly evaluating plans for a $15 billion expansion of its logistics network that could include building around 80 new facilities across urban and rural US areas, primarily delivery hubs and some robotic fulfillment centers, according to sources. The ecommerce giant is reportedly seeking financing partners for long-term leases of up to 25 years, marking a shift back to its pre-pandemic strategy of relying on third-party capital rather than owning properties outright.

Businesses are bracing for significant financial strain from President Donald Trump's latest tariffs, which could lead to abandoned freight at ports. Tariffs as high as 120% have dramatically increased costs for importers, who now face the difficult decision of accepting shipments or abandoning goods at ports due to the financial burden. As a result, many companies are delaying shipments and hoping for a resolution, while others may face costly detention charges if they cannot pay the import tariffs.

Aurora Innovation is ready to deploy its first fully autonomous semitrailer truck without a backup safety operator on Texas highways this month. The company has been testing self-driving trucks with operators since 2021 on routes between Dallas, Houston and El Paso. Aurora's trucks use a combination of lidar, radar and cameras to ensure safety, but there are concerns about a lack of regulation for autonomous vehicles.

US buyers are canceling orders from Chinese factories after the Trump administration increased tariffs on Chinese goods to as much as 125%. Chinese manufacturers, unable to further reduce prices without incurring losses, are seeking alternative markets. "It is a deal breaker," says Chen Qingxin, a toy manufacturer in Guangdong province. "No room for doing business anymore, for both sides."

Distributors that want to rise above the competition and grow sales should adopt value-based selling rather than focusing solely on product features, writes Jeff Smith, sales and marketing director for Beta Tools US. This approach involves understanding and addressing customer needs and challenges, offering expert advice and service, bundling products and customizing solutions to create a unique value proposition.

The current economic climate has left employees feeling anxious, worried and insecure, writes leadership expert Julie Winkle Giulioni, who urges leaders to embody qualities such as trust, respect and empathy to make employees feel seen, valued and supported. "While the world may feel uncertain, your duty of care can offer the steadiness your people are searching for," Winkle Giulioni writes.

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