inventory-sales

5 predictions for retail supply chains in 2021

Rather than recapping 2020, I’d rather look onward. There have been a ton of retail supply chain changes this past year. Some will last, others will not. Let’s collectively lick our wounds and look forward. Here’s 5 predictions for the retail supply chain in 2021.

Correction, inventory

Much has been made of relatively low inventory levels across the retail supply chain this year. The inventory-to-sales ratio currently stands at 1.31, down from 1.40 this time last year. We at FreightWaves have...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/5-predictions-for-the-retail-supply-chain-in-2021

Are spot rates peaking before the peak?

Chart of the Week:  Freightos Baltic Daily Index – China to North America West Coast, Intermodal Spot Rates, Truckstop Dry Van Rate per Mile – USA SONAR: FBXD.CNAW, TSTOPVRPM.USA, INTRM.USA

Spot rates for shipping ocean containers, dry van truckload and intermodal containers are all hitting multiyear highs in almost pure synchronicity — an indication that shipping demand is strong across global supply chains.

The spot market may not be the largest volume of transactions in transportation, but it...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/are-spot-rates-peaking-before-the-peak

Sales pop, inventories drop for essential retail; trucking the beneficiary

Entrance to a Target store

Several retail giants reported quarterly results this week that were favorably impacted by their status as “essential” providers during the pandemic. The fiscal second-quarter financial reports displayed favorable trends for the trucking industry – sales up and inventories down.

The run on home goods, food and consumables as stay-at-home lifestyles have taken hold amid COVID-19 was evident in financial results for Target (NYSE: TGT) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT). U.S. comparable sales climbed 24%...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/sales-pop-inventories-drop-for-essential-retail-trucking-the-beneficiary