US consumer prices rose 2.7% year over year in June, in line with economists' expectations, according to the Labor Department, with core inflation, a measure excluding food and energy, increasing 2.9%. Prices jumped 0.3% from the previous month, with month-over-month core prices rising 0.2%. Signs of tariff impacts on prices were mixed, with vehicle prices falling but apparel prices jumping 0.4% from the previous month.

Henry Schein CEO Stanley Bergman has announced plans to retire by year's end after 45 years with the company, including 35 as CEO. Under Bergman's leadership, Henry Schein has grown from a small dental mail-order business into a major health care solutions distributor with nearly $13 billion of annual revenue. Bergman will actively participate in helping the company find a successor to ensure a smooth leadership transition and plans to stay on as chairman.

The Port of Los Angeles experienced its busiest June ever, handling 892,340 twenty-foot equivalent units as importers rushed to beat the Aug. 12 tariff deadline on Chinese goods. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka says the surge shows the tariff whipsaw effect, with volumes expected to drop after the new tariffs take effect. Importers are facing increased costs and supply chain challenges, with some shifting production to other Asian countries.

US businesses are increasingly utilizing foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses to mitigate the financial impact of tariffs and trade uncertainty. These customs-sanctioned areas enable companies to defer or even lower their tax liability and enhance their cash flow position until goods enter the US market. Lori Ann LaRocco takes a deep dive for CNBC into the history of FTZs, what companies can do within them and how FTZs and bonded warehouses work.

Online spending in the US rose by $24.1 billion between July 8 and 11, driven by deep discounts during events such as Amazon's Prime Day, according to Adobe Analytics. This marks a 30.3% increase in online sales, surpassing Adobe's forecast of 28.4%, and mobile shopping accounted for 53.2% of sales. Major retailers, including Walmart, Target and Best Buy, participated with significant promotions, with apparel seeing the biggest discounts at 24%.

A Gartner report reveals that 61% of B2B buyers prefer self-service and want to avoid sales representatives. However, buyers do engage with sales representatives during crucial moments, such as identifying solutions and managing risks. Sellers who provide tailored insights to every individual in the buying group are three times more likely to secure high-quality deals.

If leaders want to change things, they must first be willing to change themselves, says Eric Kutcher, the senior partner and chair of North America at McKinsey & Company, who asks his team how they're spending their time and what they're doing differently. "Part of my leadership style is to be a constant nudge and ask, 'Why not?' You want to push the limits of the way people are thinking," Kutcher says.

Artificial intelligence is transforming corporate learning and development by shifting from a traditional course-based model to a curiosity-driven approach, writes Josh Bersin. AI tools like ChatGPT enable real-time, inquiry-based learning, making employees more productive and engaged. This shift challenges the relevance of traditional L&D methods, urging organizations to adapt to AI-powered learning to remain effective.

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