inventory

Lackluster Labor Day gives no lift to trucking market

Chart of the Week: National Truckload Index (Linehaul Only, Outbound Tender Reject index – USA SONAR: NTIL.USA, OTRI.USA

The Labor Day holiday was not a strong catalyst of disruption to the U.S. trucking market. Both spot and rejection rates reacted minimally to what was the most volatile holiday period during the pandemic years.

National dry van spot rates declined heading into the holiday while tender rejection rates got a short-lived boost from 4.3% to 4.9% before falling back below 4.3% this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lackluster-labor-day-gives-no-lift-to-trucking-market

Have inventories found their sweet spot?

Chart of the Week: Logitics Mangers’ Index – Inventory Levels, Total Business Invetory to Sales Ratio – USA  SONAR: LMI.INVL, TBIS.USA

Inventories appear to have stabilized after years of volatility. The Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) Inventory Levels component hovered in slight contraction territory last year while the Census Bureau’s Business Inventory to Sales (TBIS) fell into a more stable pattern.

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https://www.freightwaves.com/news/have-inventories-found-their-sweet-spot

Furniture companies still paying for the supply chain crisis

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In 2021, I bought on Amazon a zesty asymmetrical mirror from a brand called “BIKARSOUL.” I paid...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/furniture-companies-still-paying-for-the-supply-chain-crisis

Ocean Carriers Plan To Cut Their Sailings From Asia Amid Weak Demand

Credit: Andy Li/ unsplash
  • Ocean carriers are preparing to blank around half their advertised sailings from Asia.
  • It is against a background of extremely weak demand forecasts.
  • Sailings will be shifted from Asia to North Europe and the US after Chinese New Year on 22 January.

High inventory levels in Europe and the US, coupled with uncertainty surrounding future consumer demand, has seen orders canceled or postponed, resulting in Chinese factories preparing to shut down well ahead of the CNY...

https://mfame.guru/ocean-carriers-plan-to-cut-their-sailings-from-asia-amid-weak-demand/

Viewpoint: 6 ways retailers reduce overcrowded warehouses

This commentary was written by Nicola Kinsella, senior vice president of global marketing for Fluent Commerce. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Modern Shipper or its affiliates.

Many consumers noticed the early arrival of holiday deals over the past couple of months and the presence of Christmas décor next to Halloween fare. That’s all being blamed on a historic inventory glut and shortage of warehouse space.

Once stalled on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/viewpoint-6-ways-retailers-reduce-overcrowded-warehouses

How retailers can move that extra inventory this peak season

The yearly buying frenzy that is peak retail season is just around the corner. But vendors are facing additional pressure this time around as they seek to get rid of all of the excess inventory sitting in their warehouses.

Companies typically bulk up their supplies to ensure they can meet increased demand ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which arguably mark the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season.

This year, inventory levels hit a record high in February and have slowly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-retailers-can-move-that-extra-inventory-this-peak-season

Morgan Stanley says jaw-dropping inventory levels a ‘key risk’ to retailers

shopping warehouse

A Monday report from Morgan Stanley’s equity team said inventory is a “key risk” to retailers and electronic goods manufacturers. Thank skidding demand amid a glut of inventory. 

Morgan Stanley highlighted retailers like Best Buy, Gap and Williams-Sonoma as most exposed to these inventory risks. In the goods industry, Morgan Stanley said there’s a 19% discrepancy between inventory and sales growth.

Companies with high consumer exposure have slashed their ordering — even though this time of year...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/morgan-stanley-says-jaw-dropping-inventory-levels-a-key-risk-to-retailers

It’s going to be a weird Christmas for Target, Walmart and Amazon

shopping at target

Our biggest retailers have way too much inventory and not enough consumer buzz. That’s a problem heading into the Christmas shopping season. 

Big box behemoths like Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond have bloated stockrooms and falling sales. Meanwhile, retailers like Amazon and Dollar General have seen an uptick in inventory value through this summer, according to their latest earnings reports — even as Wall Street begs companies to stop stocking up.

Companies struggled to keep inventory levels on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/its-going-to-be-a-weird-christmas-for-target-walmart-and-amazon

If globalization is really over, what happens to supply chains?

supply chain

Tariffs, COVID, port pileups, the Ever Given, the Russia-Ukraine war, mounting U.S.-China tensions — it seems like threats to world trade are the rule, not the exception. What does this mean to the future of global supply chains?

The positive view: Importers see the risks ahead and will act. They will preemptively revamp supply chains and become nimbler and more resilient. Economic benefits of globalization are too great to give up. Countries and companies will work around hurdles.

“No one can...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/if-globalization-is-really-over-what-happens-to-supply-chains

Intermodal remains resilient, despite trucking demand dip

Intermodal provides low-cost storage option for shippers

Chart of the Week: Loaded Rail Container Volume, Outbound Tender Volume Index – USA  SONAR: ORAILL.USA, OTVI.USA

Time has been of the essence over the past year as demand for goods outstripped supply, forcing shippers to order more than they needed. Now that consumer demand is waning, companies find themselves with more inventory than they can handle. The national Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) has dropped 12% over the past year and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/intermodal-remains-resilient-despite-trucking-demand-dip

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