Consumer spending

Affirm Holdings acquires e-commerce returns specialist Returnly

Affirm Holdings, a company that specializes in providing “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) solutions for consumers, has reached an agreement to acquire e-commerce returns and post-purchase company Returnly.

Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) will pay $300 million for Returnly. The transaction is expected to close during the second half of Affirm’s fiscal year, which ends June 30.

“Over the last few years, alongside the rapid growth of online shopping, consumers’ expectations of accommodations for returns and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/affirm-holdings-acquires-e-commerce-returns-specialist-returnly

Consumers take a breather, freight volumes push higher

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 70 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

The Pricing Power Index is based on the following indicators:

Load volumes: Absolute levels positive for carriers,...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/consumers-take-a-breather-freight-volumes-push-higher

Trucking gets another shot in the arm from quarantined consumers

Chart of the Week:  Outbound Tender Volume Index – USA, Personal Consumption Expenditures – Durable Goods SONAR: OTVI.USA, PCE.DG

Just as the consumer goods boom appeared to be in decline, spending got another boost on the heels of more stimulus and spiking COVID-19 cases, posting an unexpected 12% sequential gain in January over December after the holiday spending had passed. FreightWaves Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), which measures truckload electronic tender volumes in the U.S., posted...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/trucking-gets-another-shot-in-the-arm-from-quarantined-consumers

Backdrop for carriers picture perfect as produce season begins

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

The Pricing Power Index is based on the following indicators:

Load volumes: Absolute levels and momentum positive...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/backdrop-for-carriers-picture-perfect-as-produce-season-begins

Imports ‘to set new monthly records from now into the summer’

This is an excerpt from Monday’s (3/29) Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter sponsored by ArcBest.

Yee-HAW, people. The third round of fiscal stimulus is causing an immediate and significant boost to the consumer economy. Due to the sharp contraction in spending this time last year from COVID-related lockdowns, the one-year change is distorted and not as insightful as two-year percentage changes. In the latest week of data ending March 27, total card spending (TCS) was up 20% over 2019. 

S...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/imports-to-set-new-monthly-records-from-now-into-the-summer

Stimulus round 3 provides huge boost to consumer economy — freight volumes are next

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

The Pricing Power Index is based on the following indicators:

Load volumes: Absolute levels and momentum positive...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/stimulus-round-3-provides-huge-boost-to-consumer-economy-freight-volumes-are-next

Freight markets need another source of demand

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 65 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

We may be seeing signs of a traditional January lull, but at a much higher level than years past. The Outbound...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-markets-need-another-source-of-demand

Despite losing momentum late, holiday sales surprise to the upside

This is an excerpt from Thursday’s Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter.

Despite retail sales declining sequentially each of the last three months of the year, the 2020 holiday shopping season was one for the record books. Retail sales during 2020’s November-December holiday season grew an unexpectedly high 8.3% over the same period in 2019. The 8.3% increase was more than double the 3.5% average holiday increase over the previous five years, including 2019’s 4% gain. 

(Chart: National...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/despite-losing-momentum-late-holiday-sales-surprise-to-the-upside

Consumer spending drove freight growth in 2020

Chart of the Week:  Outbound Tender Volume Index – USA, Personal Consumption Expenditures – Durable Goods SONAR: OTVI.USA, PCE.DG

Consumer spending on durable goods expanded dramatically in the second half of 2020, showing a significant connection to FreightWaves’ national Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI). Prior to the pandemic, this connection was not as clean thanks to a healthier mix of manufacturing and industrial activity. The biggest question now is what happens if and when this...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/consumer-spending-drove-freight-growth-in-2020

Price not supply driving rejection rates lower

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers)

Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers)

Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers)

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index uses the analytics and data in FreightWaves SONAR to analyze the market and estimate the negotiating power for rates between shippers and carriers.

The Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) is up ~20% yoy and shows no signs of slowing soon. The stimulus...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/price-not-supply-driving-rejection-rates-lower

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