The nation’s trade deficit dropped almost 8% in October to a 16-month low, largely because of lower imports from China tied to the ongoing U.S. trade dispute with the Asian giant. The deficit slid to $47.2 billion from a revised $51.1 billion in the prior month, the government said Thursday. If it persists through December, […]
Archive for December 5th, 2019
US Economy Grew at Moderate 2.1% Annual Rate Last Quarter
The U.S. economy grew at a moderate 2.1% rate over the summer, slightly faster than first estimated. But many economists say they think growth is slowing sharply in the current quarter. The Commerce Department says the July-September growth rate in the gross domestic product, the economy’s total output of goods and services, slightly exceeded its […]
Brexit explained: What US shippers need to know
Brits head to the polls next week (Dec. 12) in a general election which should bring more clarity to the endless Brexit saga ahead of the U.K.’s scheduled departure from the European Union (EU) at the end of January. In an exclusive interview with FreightWaves, U.K.-based Andy Cliff, managing director of freight and international logistics […]
Analysis: US Railroad System Is Great for Freight
In most of the world’s affluent countries, railroads either were built by the government or eventually claimed by it. Beset by growing losses due to high labor costs, bureaucratic inefficiency and the rise of automobiles and airplanes, those governments began reforming their rail systems in 1980s and 1990s with a mix of privatization, competition and […]
CVSA confirms hard enforcement of ELD transition
Taking its cue from federal regulators, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) confirmed it will begin fully enforcing the electronic logging device (ELD) rule on Dec. 17, with no “soft enforcement” grace period. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) previously has stated there will be no grace period allowed for carriers that have been […]
2020: Future of Manufacturing Technology
Technology is an ever-evolving field, constantly mixing in new iterations and innovations to create exciting new opportunities for today’s manufacturers to reimagine their operations. In some instances, new technologies open the door for progressive manufacturers release truly innovative offerings of their own.
Microsoft 365 ‘Life’ is reportedly launching in spring 2020 with Office, password manager, and more
Microsoft has been leading up to launching a consumer version of its Microsoft 365 subscription for months. The Verge originally revealed that the company was planning a “for life” version of its Teams software earlier this year, and now ZDNet reports that the Microsoft 365 consumer subscription is currently named “M365 Life.” These subscriptions will […]
Cyber Monday 2019 By The Numbers: A Record $9.4 Billion Haul
With the busy holiday shopping season well under way, Cyber Monday raked in a new record of more than $9 billion in sales, marking the first day in history when consumers spent over $3 billion using their smartphones, the latest report from Adobe Analytics shows. Total sales hit $9.4 billion—up nearly 19% from a $7.9 billion […]
Holiday season off to a solid start as 190 million people shop Thanksgiving weekend
The holiday shopping season has begun in earnest, with nearly 190 million consumers shopping between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, the National Retail Federation said Tuesday. The retail trade group said that’s up 14% from the same period a year ago. On average, those shoppers spent $361.90, up 16% from last year.
Teen shoppers are not as ‘fickle’ with brands as you think, Crocs CEO says
It may be an internet world where memes are here today, gone tomorrow, but teen shoppers are actually loyal to products and brands, Crocs CEO Andrew Rees told CNBC on Wednesday. “When they’re buying something that provides a lot of value, they stick with it,” Rees said on “Power Lunch.”