2024 retail sales forecast calls for growth, says National Retail Federation By Jeff Berman · March 21, 2024 NRF is pegging 2024 retail sales to increase between 2.5%-to-3.5% to between $5.23 trillion and $5.28 trillion. Should this forecast come to fruition, NRF said that it would top 2023 retail sales, which rose 3.6% to $5.1 trillion ..read more

February and year-to-date U.S. import volume is solid, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence By Jeff Berman · March 25, 2024 February imports, at 2.44 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) increased 21% compared to February 2023. And when taking into account, the timing of the Lunar New Year, coupled with the impact of ongoing Red Sea and Panama Canal disruptions, the firm explained that U.S.-bound imports over the first two months of 2024, at 5.04 million TEU, posted a 14% annual increase over 2023’s 4.40 million TEU ..read more

February manufacturing output declines, notes ISM By Jeff Berman · March 1, 2024 The report’s benchmark metric, the PMI came in at 47.8 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), down 1.3% compared to January’s 49.1 reading, contracting, at a faster rate, for the 16th consecutive month ..read more

ISM reports another month of services sector growth in February By Jeff Berman · March 5, 2024 The Services PMI, at 52.6 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), fell 0.8% in February, while growing, at a slower rate, for the 14th consecutive month. This marks growth in 44 of the last 45 months, with December 2022 being the one month with a decline over that period ..read more

NRF, Hackett Associates Raise Retail Import Growth Forecast By Amy Wunderlin · February 14, 2024 Retailers have generally navigated around the Red Sea cargo disruptions, but trade groups said costs will begin to rise even as they project a growth in imports ..read more

ISM reports services economy is off to a solid start in 2024 By Jeff Berman · February 5, 2024 The Services PMI, at 53.4 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), was up 2.9% in January, growing, at a faster rate, for the 13th consecutive month. This marks growth in 43 of the last 44 months, with December 2022 being the one month with a decline over that period. ISM added that the overall economy, like the January Services PMI, saw growth, at a faster rate, for the 13th consecutive month as well ..read more

2024 State of the North American Supply Chain By Averitt · January 22, 2024 Upgrade your shipping strategies with insights from over 1,400 shippers to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of logistics ..read more

Stakeholder Collaboration Could Unlock Reverse Logistics Profitability By Brian Straight · January 31, 2024 As reverse logistics becomes a bigger focus for brands, collaboration between stakeholders is becoming a must ..read more

As Red Sea Crisis Drags On, Shippers Eye Alternatives By Amy Wunderlin · January 16, 2024 While shifting Asian cargo from East Coast to West Coast U.S. ports adds time and cost, it is one option shippers have to counter continued risk in the Red Sea ..read more

Preparing for the freight rate increases expected in 2024 By SCMR Staff · January 18, 2024 Don't Get Left Behind: Stay ahead of transportation market changes with our white paper ..read more