Economy Watch

The global economy is the single biggest factor in driving international trade. More than at any time in history, the U.S. economic outlook and growth is linked directly to China’s economic performance and, especially in the current environment, the economy in Europe. Among the key economic indicators critical in determining the course of international trade are retail sales, housing reports, employment reports, consumer sentiment and manufacturing.

News & Analysis

 
19 Jun 2013
The global courier and delivery services industry’s revenue is expected to rise 3.5 percent in 2013, according to an industry market research report from IBISWorld.
logistics
 
19 Jun 2013
U.S. business logistics costs remained at 8.5 percent of GDP for the second consecutive year in 2012, according to the Council of Supply Chain Management’s annual State of Logistics Report.
U.S. diesel prices through June 17, 2013. Source: Energy Information Administration
 
18 Jun 2013
U.S. diesel prices fell for a fourth straight week in the week ending June 17, pushing prices to their lowest since July 30 of last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite the overall decline, U.S. regions experienced mixed shifts in price changes.
Flag of India
 
17 Jun 2013
In May, India’s exports were valued at $24.5 billion, falling 1.1 percent from $24.8 billion in the same month in the previous year, and imports were valued at $44.6 billion, rising 7.0 percent from May 2012’s $41.7 billion...
U.S. Industrial Production Index. Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
 
17 Jun 2013
The U.S. Industrial Production Index remained mostly unchanged in May 2013, edging up only 0.04 percent, according to the latest retail report from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
 
17 Jun 2013
Inflation-adjusted gross domestic product increased at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2013, while manufacturing output rose at a “much faster” 5.0 percent annual rate, according to the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation U.S. Industrial Outlook.
Blended image of U.S. and European Union flags
 
17 Jun 2013
The European Union and the U.S. officially launched far-reaching negotiations on a trans-Atlantic free trade and investment agreement today that could boost their combined economies by as much as $280 billion a year.
 
17 Jun 2013
U.S. containerized exports could exceed imports during certain months as soon as 2016 and on an annual basis by 2020, Walter Kemmsies, chief economist at Moffatt & Nichol, told the annual meeting of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.
 
14 Jun 2013
Following an outbreak of the avian influenza during the second half of 2012 and its continued spread in 2013, the Mexican poultry market has suffered a “considerable loss” in production, according to the U.S. Grains Council.
U.S. Retail Inventory-to-Sales Ratio through April 2013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau
 
14 Jun 2013
U.S. retail and food service sales edged up 0.6 percent in May 2013 to $421 billion, according to the latest seasonally adjusted retail report from the Census Bureau. This accelerated from a 0.1 percent increase in April and extended growth to a second month. The retail sales-to-inventory ratio, also seasonally adjusted, hit its highest level since July 2009 in April.
 
14 Jun 2013
From March to May, overall confidence levels in the shipping industry increased to their highest level in 2 1/2 years, according to Moore Stephen’s latest Shipping Confidence Survey.

Commentary

 
CEO Frank Blake's discussion of Home Depot’s online strategy underscores the depth to which e-commerce is impacting the supply chains of major shippers such as those included on this week’s annual JOC ranking of Top 100 Importers and Exporters.