Small-business owner optimism jumped in May on improved business conditions and sales expectations, sending the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism Index up three points from a month earlier. However, taxes have emerged as the top driver of optimism and concern, with 18% of owners citing it as their primary issue amid uncertainty over the tax-and-spending bill under negotiation in Congress. Labor market pressures have eased, though industries such as construction and manufacturing still face challenges in hiring.

Consumer inflation expectations declined in May due to President Donald Trump's decision to ease some tariff threats, according to a New York Federal Reserve survey. The one-year inflation outlook dropped to 3.2%, while the three-year and five-year forecasts fell to 3% and 2.6%, respectively.

US retailers are rapidly importing goods from China -- particularly electronics, clothing and seasonal goods -- capitalizing on a temporary reduction in tariffs from 145% to 30% until Aug. 12. The National Retail Federation's Global Port Tracker forecasts import volumes to rise to 2.13 million containers in July from 2.01 million in June, but a sharp decline is expected in September.

Sales forces are a distributor's primary connection with customers, and selecting the right model plays a critical role in enhancing efficiency and customer engagement, according to Redwood Advisors. While outside sales have long dominated the field, modern models have evolved to include inside sales, hybrid sales and hunter-farmer models. Inside sales have become more prominent due to remote technologies, hybrid sales combine inside and outside efforts for top accounts, and the hunter-farmer model separates customer acquisition and retention roles but requires careful coordination to avoid disruptions.

Third-party logistics providers have an opportunity due to the Trump administration's tariffs, but they must strengthen partnerships with less-than-truckload and last-mile carriers to capitalize, according to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' State of Logistics Report. The report highlights the need for 3PLs to expand their service offerings, improve contingency planning and develop agile systems capable of handling alternate routes and rapid fulfillment.

B2B marketers are increasingly investing in brand marketing to support long-term growth, with 40% planning to up brand-building budgets and 45.5% willing to allocate more than half of their budgets if financial constraints were not an issue, according to a report from Insider Intelligence and StackAdapt. While lead generation remains a priority, 62.7% of marketers recognize brand marketing as vital to long-term success, though proving ROI remains a challenge.

Fewer than 30% of CEOs now expect a recession in the next six months, down from 62% in April, according to a survey by Chief Executive Group. The shift comes as President Donald Trump paused tariffs, allowing for negotiations with countries such as the UK and China, and as consumer sentiment has improved, per a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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