Economy

November 2019 booked orders decreased 10.6% when compared to November 2018 orders.

Consumers expect free shipping and a 20% reduction in expected delivery time during the holiday season. In 2018, consumers were willing to wait 3.9 days on average – today the expectation is an average of 3.1 days.

Equipment and software investment likely to post weakest year of growth since 2016 following the first annualized contraction in more than three years in Q3.

October 2019 billed sales down 18.6% compared to October 2018 sales.

A comprehensive review of worker activity, safety and attitude is an important element to optimizing labor value and surviving an economic downturn.

Commerce reported that October retail sales, at $526.5 billion, were up 0.3% compared to September and up 3.1% annually. NRF reported that October retail sales were up 0.2% from September to October on a seasonally adjusted basis and up 4.2% on an unadjusted basis.

Outlook provides insights to help leaders navigate uncertainty and increase operational flexibility for the future amid ongoing volatility. in costs and policy decisions

Orders for unit handling equipment nearly doubled from August to September.

Survey illustrates concerns of procurement leaders – representing companies with a combined annual turnover of $5 trillion – and provides exclusive insights into the key challenges and opportunities impacting procurement.

Respondents cited an economic downturn as the No. 1 ris, with 46% identifying it as a top risk impacting procurement and 70% indicating they are very likely to cut costs over the next year.

An increase of 42% in unit handling equipment orders contributed to a month that saw 58% improvement over the same period in 2018.

Although a recession in the next six months appears unlikely, business conditions for the equipment finance industry are also unlikely to improve materially over the rest of the year, particularly for equipment verticals that serve the manufacturing sector.

Warehouses smaller than 120,000 square-feet growing in demand, due largely to continued e-commerce growth.

High labor cost and quick time-to-market have driven U.S. manufacturers to be more aggressive with the adoption of industrial artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

Organizers pledge the event will return in 2020, calling it part of an important movement for the nation’s jobs, communities and economy.