The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index experienced its sharpest monthly decline since April, dropping 0.5% in August to 98.4, exceeding expectations. The downturn underscores mounting economic headwinds, including persistent labor market challenges and weak manufacturing orders, and signals continued slowing in economic activity. The LEI has declined 2.8% over the past six months.

US retailers are moving in holiday imports at least a month earlier than usual, aiming to mitigate the risks and costs associated with shifting tariff policies. The traditional seasonal surge in shipments ahead of Christmas has been pulled forward, with most year-end goods already moving through the supply chain.

Amazon is investing more than $1 billion to raise pay for US warehouse and transportation workers and to reduce health care costs, changes that will take effect in 2026. The average hourly wage will increase to more than $23, and some veteran employees will see a raise of $1.10 to $1.90 per hour.

Managing supplier risk is becoming increasingly complex as organizations face more contractual obligations, regulatory requirements and financial and reputational risks. Steven Adler of The Edmund Group emphasizes the importance of supplier risk intelligence in monitoring activities such as data breaches, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and labor issues. Integrating risk intelligence into procurement and supply chain management can provide a competitive advantage and ensure better risk management.

Change management has become a critical focus for procurement leaders as they guide teams through continual transformation amid market uncertainties. "Our focus is now on driving business value engineering, where procurement acts as a key enabler of growth, innovation and compliance," says Nita Nair, in charge of procurement at Emirates NBD.

The integration of AI and technology is transforming the B2B sales funnel, making it more adaptable and reducing the need for direct interaction with salespeople, writes Sage's Harry Davies. Studies from Gartner, Forrester, Boston Consulting Group and 6sense indicate that buyers now engage with salespeople much later, typically after 70% of their decision-making is complete. "The future of B2B sales isn't about who wants to talk to a salesperson; it's about who has to. The challenge for marketers is to make sure that the answer is 'no one,'" Davies writes.

You can transform challenges from a threat into an opportunity, and change another's mind, by being curious instead of argumentative, writes former FBI agent LaRae Quy, who offers three strategies. Being curious means showing vulnerability, using stories to create a sense of connection and sticking to facts over becoming emotional, Quy writes.

Companies are increasingly including tariff-related clauses in contracts to mitigate risks from global trade disruptions, according to a survey by Agiloft. The survey finds that 92% of firms have such clauses, reflecting the persistent and unpredictable nature of tariffs under the Trump administration. This trend is leading to a surge in contract reviews and renegotiations, primarily driven by legal departments.

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