The producer price index increased 1% in January and an unadjusted 9.7% for the past 12 months, according to the Labor Department. Core prices, which do not include such categories as energy and food, rose by 0.9% and 6.9%, respectively.
Economic growth should continue through the end of the decade, although inflation will remain high, economist Brian Beaulieu said at last month's National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors Executive Summit. Beaulieu also predicted that labor shortages will persist but could start to improve in the next two to three years.
WESCO International improved fourth-quarter sales and profit both through its acquisition of Anixter and by organic sales growth of 15.8%. Each WESCO operating segment showed quarterly growth, and the company as a whole posted higher full-year revenue and profit.
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Robotic reach trucks can supplement trained human operators to navigate tight vertical spaces in warehouses, writes John Hayes of Balyo USA. "The current generation of autonomous reach trucks can interface with machines, conveyors, warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP (enterprise resource planning) software for a full integration within existing operations," Hayes writes.
Startups are capturing more funding from investors to develop technologies that help combat supply chain challenges fueled by the surge in e-commerce and a tight logistics labor market. Attabotics has developed suitcase-size robots called "ants" that move along vertical and horizontal tracks to pick up parcels of goods held within a cube, while Veho provides next-day delivery via drivers who choose routes using its app.
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Sales organizations must change to meet the needs of customers, not the other way around, writes David Brock. "Perhaps the starting point is by looking internally, changing what we do, how we work with each other, how we create meaning and value within our organizations," Brock writes.
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