The Trump administration has postponed a scheduled tariff hike on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. Twenty-five percent tariffs remain in place on upholstered furniture, cabinetry and vanities, but a higher, 30% rate was set to take effect on Jan. 1. The rate hike has now been delayed until Jan. 1, 2027.

US construction starts fell 20.5% in November, primarily due to weak nonbuilding activity, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts decreased 13.4%, while residential starts rose 13.3%. Despite the monthly decline, total construction starts are up 5.1% year-to-date, with nonbuilding starts increasing by 17.5%. Eric Gaus, chief economist at Dodge Construction Network, noted the absence of megaprojects as a factor in the weak performance.

Employee-owned HVAC distributor Hoffman & Hoffman is investing $40 million to expand and consolidate its Greensboro, N.C., headquarters and manufacturing operations. The HVAC systems and equipment distributor plans to bring all corporate operations under one roof and increase its warehousing capacity to support the company's growth in the southeastern US and Europe.

Initial jobless claims declined to 199,000 in the week ended Dec. 27, down 16,000 from the prior period, according to the Labor Department. The tally was below the estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Competing Class I railroads have identified numerous alleged deficiencies in the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application and are urging the Surface Transportation Board to reject it for lacking critical information. Key criticisms include insufficient analysis of competitive effects and a lack of required data on projected market shares and shipper impacts. Railroads such as Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian National, CSX, and BNSF highlighted these shortcomings, asserting that the application does not meet STB standards for completeness or transparency.

President Donald Trump's trade war has reshaped global trade, with US tariffs leading to significant shifts in manufacturing and supply chains. The Wall Street Journal examined how companies in a range of industries dealt with shifting trade policies this year, including carmaker Nissan's move to increase US production and Independent Can passing on steel tariff costs to customers.

B2B marketers must shift their focus from "rented to owned prominence," prioritizing owned content via thought leadership, strong branding and community engagement over paid ads, according to a recent report from LinkedIn's B2B Institute. The research emphasizes the importance of owned content for generative engine optimization, offering tips on building brand assets to boost prominence.

The integration of agentic AI systems in the small business workplace requires managers to adapt to leading hybrid teams that comprise digital and human employees, according to a report by BetterUp. The report highlights that 88% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, with a shift toward agentic AI tools that can operate independently. This evolution raises questions about performance metrics, managerial roles and the necessity for ongoing training.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has launched the Distributors Deliver Podcast, exploring the technologies and trends that are moving the industry forward. The first episode focuses on politics and policy, with NAW President and CEO Eric Hoplin discussing the issues impacting distributors with NAW Chief of Government Relations Brian Wild.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.

Interested in membership with NAW? Reach out and let us know how we can help you.