Core retail sales increased 0.23% in May from the previous month and 4.2% year-over-year, led by growth in digital sales, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Total retail sales rose 0.49% over April and 4.44% year-over-year. “The data for May indicates that the pull-forward in consumer demand ahead of tariffs is likely dissipating,” said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. “While momentum remains, the nature of consumer spending is shifting as economic uncertainty increases.”

Scenario planning can help distributors prepare for multiple futures by considering the impact of innovation and global integration, writes Readmore Ventures CEO Kevin Reid-Morris. Four scenarios of what wholesale distribution may look like by 2035 include maintaining traditional roles, becoming tech-driven platforms, thriving through regional relationships and navigating a fragmented world with high innovation, Reid-Morris writes.

More US importers are turning to customs brokers to navigate the complexities of President Donald Trump's evolving trade policies and tariff regulations, leading to higher fees, additional costs and continuous strategy adjustments. Major logistics firms such as FedEx and DHL are expanding their customs compliance teams to manage the changes, and major companies such as Nike, Amazon and Lowe's are posting numerous job openings for trade and customs experts.

Demand for bonded warehouse space and foreign trade zones has surged as shippers use these facilities to store imports and delay tariff payments, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The Planet Money podcast spoke with Larry Smith of Belts Logistics, an operator of such facilities in Baltimore. Smith said demand for his facilities has grown significantly as firms seek to lock in lower tariff rates --  or wait for lower levies -- to manage cash flow and timing amid fluctuating tariffs.

Distributors often make costly rebate management mistakes by not tracking expected payments or rebates, missing rebate tiers and using disconnected systems, writes Ilia Papas, CEO of rebate management software company Band. Automation and centralized tracking can prevent discrepancies and long resolution times, and real-time monitoring can help minimize errors and missed deadlines, Papas writes.

Small and midsized businesses are facing a nearly 30% increase in procurement costs due to the end of the de minimis exemption for imports from China and Hong Kong. SMBs are responding by diversifying sourcing, using strategic inventory management and increasing the frequency of planning to weekly.

Brand discovery is a critical component of B2B marketing that can prevent generic messaging and a disconnect between sales and marketing, writes AvreaFoster CEO Dave Foster. Discovery involves interviews, digital analysis and market research to uncover customer needs and competitive differentiators, and it can inform strategic decisions and authentic messaging, Foster writes.

You become a better and more self-aware leader when you can switch from your personal perception of a situation to a perspective state that gives you a broader view, writes executive coach Naphtali Hoff. Step into that larger perspective by acknowledging that you have only your interpretation of what's happening, asking questions instead of making assumptions and regularly engaging with diverse perspectives, Hoff advises.

The increase in trade running up to the US election is beginning to unwind now the global economy faces increased uncertainty, the International Monetary Fund has said. While recent trade deals between the US and other countries are positive, data shows slowing activity as the US continues to impose tariffs.

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