Core capital goods orders in the US rose 0.7% in November, according to the Commerce Department. ""The robust core capital goods orders and shipments figures for the second half of last year suggest that momentum in business investment has been building heading into 2026," said Stephen Stanley, chief US economist at Santander US Capital Markets.

Jonathan Bennett has been appointed president of RS Americas, succeeding the retiring Doug Moody. Bennett has more than 20 years of leadership experience and has worked at Beacon Building Products, The Home Depot and Boston Consulting Group.

An S&P Global index that tracks the manufacturing and services sectors was measured at 52.8 in January, indicating expansion. Exports declined, although a measure of new business orders increased to 52.2.

Volatility has become a structural feature of the logistics market, necessitating resilience, according to the "State of Logistics Report" by Kearney for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The report highlights the importance of supplier collaboration and AI in optimizing processes. Since the report's release, market conditions have become more favorable for shippers, with declining ocean rates and increased warehousing vacancy.

Melinda McLaughlin, global head of research at Prologis, Inc., discussed the state of worldwide logistics markets, including the impact of ecommerce and the power requirements of facilities. "I think there's an acknowledgement that supply chains need to be adaptable rather than continue to wait for perfect information," McLaughlin says. "And I think that's really going to shape a return to normal in a lot of different spheres of the logistics real estate market."

According to the 30th annual Third-Party Logistics Study, only 55% of shipper and third-party logistics provider relationships are considered strategic partnerships, with a significant disparity in what drives the two groups to pursue such relationships. While shippers cite supply chain disruptions and cost optimization as primary drivers, 3PLs focus on demand for visibility and customer experience.

Chris Blades, senior director of B2B marketing at Verizon, discusses the transformative role of AI in B2B marketing, particularly in lead generation and personalization. Blades emphasizes the importance of creativity, simplicity and trust in building brand reputation and demand. He also notes the potential of creator marketing to foster authentic, ongoing conversations and the necessity of aligning marketing and sales narratives.

A survey by consulting firm Section showed a significant disparity between CEOs and employees regarding their perspectives on generative artificial intelligence. CEOs tended to see AI as enhancing efficiency, but employees often reported minimal time savings.

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