In reporting weekly U.S. rail traffic as well as volumes for August 2015 and the first eight months of 2015, the Association of American Railroads said that traffic is beginning to show some signs of growth.
Intermodal infrastructure investments featured on CNBC
Demand for freight transportation is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. The Federal Highway Administration estimates total U.S. freight shipments will rise to 28.5 billion tons in 2040 — a 45 percent increase from 20121. As demand grows, intermodal rail will play a critical role in the current and future freight transportation landscape.
U.S. Productivity Increases at 3.3% Pace in Second Quarter
WASHINGTON—U.S. worker productivity advanced this spring, reflecting a bounce back in economic activity following a slow start to 2015. (This article requires a subscription with The Wall Street Journal. To access, please click on the above link.)
CMA CGM Callisto, largest container ship ever to call Puget Sound, arrives at Terminal 18
Heralding the larger ships cascading into the trans-Pacific trade, the CMA CGM Callisto, the largest container ship ever to call Puget Sound, arrived Tuesday at Terminal 18 in Seattle.
U.S. Construction Spending Hits a New Postrecession High
U.S. construction spending rose to the highest level in more than seven years in July, suggesting that the housing market and business investment can help underpin economic growth amid turbulence outside American borders. (This article requires a subscription with The Wall Street Journal. To access, please click on the above link.)
Eastbound trans-Pacific spot rates fall to 45-month low
Just days before trans-Pacific ocean carriers aim to implement aggressive general rate increases on eastbound services to North America, average spot rates from Shanghai to the U.S. hit their lowest level in almost four years. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on the above link.)
Interest in nearshoring remains strong, but trend may be slowing
Many executives are attracted to the potential cost savings of moving production closer to the end market. But concerns about safety, security, and the availability of skilled labor in these locations are giving some pause
Devaluation of Chinese currency could have ripple effect on supply chains
When news broke last week regarding the Chines government’s decision to devalue, its dollar, known as the Yuan, by nearly two percent, it sent a ripple throughout the global economy in a few different ways.
Widespread inventory ‘de-stocking’ softens US freight markets
An inventory correction or “de-stocking” is under way in the U.S., as manufacturers and retailers attempt to whittle down inventories of components and goods. That corrections is cutting into freight volumes moving by rail and on highways this summer, as shippers pull from existing stocks before placing new orders, sources told JOC.com. (This article requires […]
Retailers struggle to balance inventories as online sales grow
An empty shelf in a big box store may be a retail logistics manager’s worse nightmare, but it’s not the only one. An empty warehouse rack or shelf may be just as bad, especially if that warehouse ships e-commerce orders. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on the […]