Lowe's has agreed to acquire Dallas-based Artisan Design Group in a deal valued at $1.33 billion to bolster offerings for professional customers amid slowing demand for home remodeling. Artisan Design provides design, distribution and installation services and generated $1.8 billion in revenue in the 2024 fiscal year. The company has 3,200 installers in 18 states.

US import prices fell 0.1% in March, driven by a 2.3% drop in fuel prices, while nonfuel import prices increased 0.1%, according to Labor Department data. Prices for imports from China decreased by 0.2%. The import price data follows up other recent inflation reports that indicate slowing price growth ahead of the implementation of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

US retail sales increased 0.6% in March compared to the previous month and 4.75% from a year earlier, according to the CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor. Sales were driven by gains in digital products, general merchandise and sporting goods. Sales at building and garden supply stores fell 0.81% month-over-month, while sales at electronics and appliance stores and health and personal care stores also declined. The NRF predicts a spending pullback due to consumer concerns over tariffs.

President Donald Trump's decision to pause tariffs on most trading partners has led to a surge in freight orders, especially from Europe, as companies rush to move goods. However, tariffs on China remain at 145%, and uncertainty continues to affect supply chains, with some shipments from Mexico and Canada still on hold, says Henco Global CEO Simon Cohen.

Autonomous mobile robot demand remains strong, driven by the need for efficiency in ecommerce, distribution centers, warehouses, manufacturing and logistics, despite economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies. The robotic sortation market is expected to grow by more than 17% between 2023 and 2032, according to Dataintelo, as more companies face limited labor resources and the need to process large volumes of items.

Global supply chain spare capacity has hit its highest level in nearly five years, according to the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index. This increase in capacity coincides with manufacturers globally showing caution and significantly reducing their stockpiling due to tariff uncertainty and concerns about future demand.

Agentic AI, which acts autonomously and continuously learns and adapts, is set for a breakthrough this year, writes Daniel Saks, CEO of Landbase. Unlike generative AI, agentic AI handles tasks and makes decisions without human intervention, potentially transforming business operations by optimizing outcomes and driving value, Saks explains. "An agentic AI system can analyze sales data and actively pursue qualified leads. It can even engage prospects," Saks writes.

Uncertainty over looming tariffs is causing businesses to pause investments. Major banks like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and M&T Bank noted little changes in credit line utilization. "Our customers actually really wanted to make a lot of investments. They want to do acquisitions," said M&T CFO Daryl Bible. "They are just really on pause right now ... Things keep changing in D.C., and until that settles out a little bit, I think they're going to be on hold."

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