ABC Supply has expanded its branch network in Mississippi with the acquisition of Exterior Home Products, a family-owned business in Columbus, ABC's fourth location in the state. The location will operate as ABC Supply, all existing staff will remain, and Jason Knight, son of the founders, will continue as branch manager. The company has a reputation for reliability and strong relationships with contractors, offering a broad range of exterior building materials.

Tariff volatility has prompted US companies to significantly increase front-loading of imports from China, with ImportGenius data showing a 49% increase in imports from June to July compared with the 12.2% peak in 2018. However, there has been a 40% decrease in exports from China to the US from July to August, and spot rates on the trans-Pacific route have dropped, indicating that the early peak season may be ending.

US spending on equipment increased in Q3, with new orders for core capital goods increasing 1.1% in July and shipments rising 0.7%, according to the Commerce Department. Aircraft accounted for a 2.8% drop in orders for long-lasting manufactured goods. Some surveys had indicated businesses were hesitant about investing due to the potential effects of import tariffs, but orders and shipments both appeared relatively positive.

Postal carriers in Europe are suspending some business shipments to the US as the "de minimis" trade exemption ends Friday for shipments valued under $800. President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending the longtime practice. Shipments from Germany, Spain, France and Belgium could be paused as systems are updated to meet the new requirements.

Private fleet growth across industries has slowed or remained steady as companies navigate unpredictable business conditions. While some sectors, such as beverage and agriculture, saw modest expansions by top carriers like PepsiCo Beverages North America and Tyson Foods, many large private fleets have held off on significant increases to their tractor counts. Factors such as market uncertainty and operational reassessments are driving this cautious approach to fleet growth.

Disengagement by B2B buyers, or "quiet quitting" the sales funnel, is a challenge for marketers. Outward Media CEO Paula Chiocchi suggests auditing content for relevance, integrating channels, monitoring intent signals and maintaining data hygiene as strategies for re-engaging buyers who are overwhelmed by content.

Website visit conversion rates only reach 3.3% in 14 industries, a recent study found. Forsta's Chelsea Alves recommends that marketers focus on measuring the quality rather than the quantity of traffic, using metrics such as bounce rate, time on page and conversion pathways, and to concentrate on elements like long-tail keywords and first-party data.

The US labor market is experiencing a significant shift due to a dramatic decrease in immigration, with net immigration potentially turning negative for the first time in decades. Economists warn that without positive net immigration, the labor force will struggle to grow, potentially leading to larger budget deficits and reduced economic dynamism.

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