Import volumes at major US container ports have continued to decline, with October 2025 recording a 7.9% year-over-year drop, and projections for November and December suggest even steeper decreases, according to the Global Port Tracker from NRF and Hackett Associates. For the full year, NRF anticipates a 1.4% decline in total container volume compared to 2024. Import demand is expected to remain weak into 2026 due to the effects of tariffs and policy uncertainty. "Stores are stocked up and ready for a record holiday season but there is still a great deal of uncertainty about what will happen in 2026 with trade policy," said Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

Global Industrial Company CEO Anesa Chaibi is shifting the company's focus from large equipment to include smaller items. Chaibi, who became CEO in February, is focused on creating intentional, strategic growth and values the company's culture of engagement and openness to change. She quickly immersed herself in the company's operations by engaging with employees, vendors and customers nationwide, and has emphasized the importance of listening to customers and understanding their needs.

New orders for metalworking machinery in the US reached $538.9 million in October, marking a 9% jump from September and a 40.3% year-over-year increase, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology. Renewed tax incentives and sustained demand from consumers and government entities drove the surge. Notable increases were seen from contract machine shops, aerospace manufacturers and power transmission equipment makers.

Economists and retail executives caution that the full impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs will intensify in early 2026. Companies have largely managed to shield consumers from the full brunt of tariffs throughout 2025 by employing tactics such as stockpiling pre-tariff inventory, cutting expenses and distributing price increases selectively across products. However, executives from companies such as Williams-Sonoma and Kohl's now acknowledge that these strategies are reaching their limits, with plans to implement broader price increases to protect margins after holiday discounts end.

Businesses are under increasing pressure to modernize supplier contracts by embedding responsible procurement and supply chain due diligence amid a shifting regulatory landscape and rising customer and shareholder expectations, write attorneys with Cooley LLP. They offer five key considerations for companies reviewing supplier contracts: stay ahead of legal changes, enhance supply chain transparency, consider responsible disengagement, build protections against breach and disruption, and ensure enforceability.

Marketers plan to reinvest in email marketing in 2026, with 65% of organizations citing it as a reliable channel, according to a survey from AdRoll and WBR Insights. The research also found that 97% of respondents report that AI has affected marketing performance, with 21% calling it "very significant."

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create dedicated food supply chain security task forces within the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department. The order aims to address vulnerabilities from price fixing and anti-competitive practices that could threaten the stability and security of the nation's food supply. Trump emphasized that particular attention will be given to foreign-controlled companies and potential national security risks associated with food supply chains.

Instead of giving your team all the answers they seek, formulate good questions that create a sense of safety so they can generate ideas and come up with creative solutions, writes executive coach Kelly Meerbott, who offers five "turn-key ready" questions you can ask today. "Each of these questions is deceptively simple. But paired with active listening and genuine curiosity, they can completely change the trajectory of a conversation," Meerbott writes.

The world is changing rapidly, driven by factors such as AI advancements, geopolitical tensions and climate challenges, which means that leaders at every level must develop the ability to pause, assess and act strategically, writes author and leadership expert Sally Percy. Leaders who foster curiosity, critical thinking and courageous decision-making will be best equipped to guide organizations through increasing complexity and uncertainty in 2026.

Companies that treat pricing as a strategic lever rather than a back-office function are set to gain a significant competitive advantage, write Pascal Yammine and Geoffrey Moore. They cite Caterpillar's example of maintaining pricing discipline and achieving record profit, while other companies are paralyzed by "pricing anxiety." Executives should align leadership around metrics and messaging, build momentum through targeted transformation and measure commercial outcomes.

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