Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Commerce reported that April retail sales at $408.0 billion were up 0.1 percent over March and 6.4 percent higher than April 2011.The NRF reported that April retail sales, which exclude autos, gas stations, and restaurants, were down 0.1 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis from March and up 2.8 percent on an unadjusted basis annually.

The price per gallon of diesel fuel dropped at its steepest level in nearly five months, according to data from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.

Business conditions impacting shippers remain largely unchanged, according to the most recent edition of the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) from freight transportation forecasting firm FTR Associates.

Monday, May 14, 2012

The addition of next-generation E-Auctions is powered by optimization technology

This is an exclusive interview with Dennis Omanoff, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Procurement, Seagate Technology

Building off of the positive momentum from February to March, global trade activity continued heading in the right direction from March to April, according to data released by Panjiva.

April’s 0.1 percent increase was preceded by gains of 0.3 percent and 0.7 percent in March and February, respectively.

With Europe in a recession, it is being reflected in data in the most recent edition of the Global Port Tracker report from Hackett Associates and the Bremen Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Schneider National and BNSF Railway have inked a new, multi-year agreement in which BNSF will continue to serve as one of Schneider’s primary rail providers for intermodal service.

FedEx is set to acquire TATEX, a France-based B2B express transportation company focused on heavy shipments.