The producer price index was down 0.5% from the prior month in April and increased 2.4% from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both measures fell below the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. A measure that strips out the food and energy trade declined 0.4% for the month and increased 3.1% from a year ago.

Container ship reservations for voyages from China to the United States have reportedly climbed by over 50% this week, according to the boss of German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd. The increase comes after heavy cancellations and delays amid a tariff row, but business is reopening after the two nations agreed to scale back import duties.

US logistics workers are experiencing significant burnout risks, with 20% of workers overutilized, meaning they exceed employer-set productive hours benchmarks by more than 30%, according to an ActivTrak study. Logistics workers have the longest workdays among laborers, at just over nine hours, and the most productive daily time, at just over seven hours. The report notes that about 72% of logistics workers are using AI. ActiTrak says sustaining performance requires smarter workload design and ensuring AI alleviates pressure rather than improving efficiency.

Companies are increasingly using the 260 foreign trade zones in the US to defer tariff payments. The Wall Street Journal's "What's News" podcast discussed FTZs, how companies use them and Arizona's status as a national hub. WSJ news associate Owen Tucker-Smith says FTZs provide financial relief and significant cash flow benefits for smaller businesses by allowing tariff payment deferral until goods are sold. However, a recent executive order locks in tariff rates at the time of goods' entry into the zones.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for companies to integrate supply chain resilience into third-party risk management, writes Citigroup executive Archaana Pattabhii. This approach involves regular risk assessments, continuous monitoring with AI and collaboration with vendors to address vulnerabilities and ensure operational continuity.

Sales success hinges on understanding customer needs, writes Kat Kraus, business development manager at Beta Tools. While AI and data management tools enhance efficiency, the human element remains critical. Kraus writes that sales teams should approach site visits as discovery missions, noting that by observing workflows and identifying pain points, salespeople can offer tailored solutions that enhance customer productivity.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced that the central bank is rethinking its policy framework in response to lasting changes in inflation and interest rates since 2020. While the outcome of the review, expected by late summer, is unlikely to affect immediate rate decisions, it marks a recognition that the era of persistently low interest rates may be over. "The economic environment has changed significantly since 2020, and our review will reflect our assessment of those changes," Powell said.

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