Online shopping is reaching such a critical mass with American households that many of the icons of the traditional mall – from Macy’s to The Gap and J.C. Penney – face an increasingly uncertain future.
Archive for the ‘CONSUMER GOODS’ Category
How Amazon Will Kill Your Local Grocer
Amazon’s done it to books. And electronics. And clothing. Now it wants to rule the grocery aisles. But Amazon still has a ways to go — the online retailing behemoth has taken a slow, yet calculated approach to attacking the grocery store.
E-Commerce Boom Roils Trucking Industry
A seismic change in the way Americans are shopping is affecting everything from how, when and where they make purchases to whether they pay with credit cards or mobile clicks. The transformation is rocking retail and shipping and rippling through real estate, banking and tech. (This article requires a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. […]
Manufacturing in U.S. Expands for First Time in Seven Months
Manufacturing expanded in March for the first time in seven months, fueled by a surge in orders that signals American factories are emerging from their worst slump since the last recession.
U.S. manufacturing still weak; labor market flexes muscle
New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods fell in February as the sector continued to struggle with the lingering effects of a robust dollar and lower oil prices. While other data on Thursday showed an increase in the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week, revisions to the prior weeks’ figures showed the […]
Why Clothing Startups Are Returning To American Factories
At the swanky Prudential Center in the heart of Boston’s shopping district, the Yogasmoga boutique stands out for its sparse, minimalist aesthetic. At the entrance, there is a large white orchid on a table surrounded by neatly folded tank tops and yoga pants known for their high-tech fabrics. Soothing, Eastern-inspired music is piped in, giving […]
Amazon Enters Air Cargo Space With 20-Aircraft Deal
Amazon Fulfillment Services and Air Transport Services Group announced an agreement to operate an air cargo network serving Amazon customers in the U.S.
Sporting Goods Retailers Hit Losing Streak
The sporting goods industry is in a funk. Less than a week after the Sports Authority Inc. filed for bankruptcy, rival Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. on Tuesday reported weak holiday results and offered a dim near-term outlook as it spends more to revamp stores and build up its website. (This article requires a subscription to […]
For intermodal, another double-digit gain
Intermodal continues to carry the day for the North American freight railroad industry, registering a gain of nearly 20% for the week ending Feb. 20, 2016, the third consecutive week of double-digit growth, compared to the prior-year period, and offsetting weak carload traffic—which includes a sharp drop in crude oil.
US West Coast congestion cost Washington $770 million, study says
Washington state suffered an economic impact of $769.5 million due to labor disruptions at West Coast ports this past year, according to one of the most detailed analyses of the impact of a labor disruption on U.S. business and industry. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on the […]