The manufacturing sector continued to grow in December, but at a slightly lower rate compared to November, according to data released by the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday. The data, taken before the full effect of the omicron variant was felt, pointed to the same big picture of healthy demand being hampered by supply chain bottlenecks that ... READ MORE >
supply chain
Government services contractors continue to contend with labor issues, pandemic fallout
While government services contractors battle a tight labor market and ongoing supply chain disruptions, they emerged from the third quarter of 2021 excited for advances in digital warfare and the future of defense. Top executives in the government services space highlighted opportunities and strategic initiatives in their third-quarter earnings calls, ... READ MORE >
Biden’s infrastructure package: Impact on consumer products businesses
On Nov. 15, President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package—The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—that provides historic funding levels to improve public works, including roads, bridges, highways, internet access and the power grid, as well as to mitigate the effects of climate change. The bill does not include funding for social policy, ... READ MORE >
Defense technology companies contend with supply chain challenges, vaccine mandate
Companies in the defense technologies ecosystem continue to closely monitor and optimize their labor force and supply chains while positioning for short- and long-term federal government modernization and innovation efforts. In third-quarter earnings calls, top industry executives primarily addressed supply chain disruptions, the federal contractor vaccine ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season countdown: What will they buy?
Consumer behavior has never been more diverse, volatile and difficult to predict this holiday season. However, as consumers navigate an evolving landscape of mask and vaccine mandates, localized outbreaks and school re-openings, some trends have begun to emerge. Some at-home trends have begun to reverse Sales growth for athletic apparel and footwear has ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Canada’s retail sales cool amid bumpy recovery
Continuing what has been a volatile year for consumers, Canada’s retail sales decreased by 0.6% in July compared to June, according to data released on Thursday by Statistics Canada. The decline is just the latest swing in what has been an ever-changing consumer landscape amid uncertainty concerning the delta variant. But overall, retail sales this year ... READ MORE >
Managing a supply chain: The short and long game for consumer goods companies
Persistent bottlenecks throughout the global supply chain continue to stand in the way of middle market consumer goods companies’ ability to take full advantage of robust consumer demand. And while the challenges these companies face are not unique to the middle market, midsize businesses will need to leverage nimble strategies to navigate disruption and ... READ MORE >
Home builders, facing shortage of materials, can’t meet soaring demand
Even as the housing market continues to lead the economic recovery in the United States, home builders, whipsawed by more than a year of dramatic changes fueled by the pandemic, are facing new pressures as they try to meet surging demand. Already, builders have been scrambling to find enough workers to put up the homes. But now, builders face an acute ... READ MORE >
Government services executives highlight 5 trends from Q2
While government services contractors battle a tight labor market and continued supply chain disruptions, they are excited for what the future holds relating to infrastructure, artificial intelligence and zero-trust cybersecurity. Top executives in government services recently highlighted opportunities and strategic initiatives in their second-quarter ... READ MORE >
Global supply chain disruptions accelerate, presenting a challenge to the middle market
Fragile global supply chains are facing another round of port closures, factory shutdowns, production halts and labor shortages as the delta variant spreads. These disruptions will almost certainly delay the return of full production in the global economy until the middle of next year and create the conditions for further price volatility until the ... READ MORE >