The Supreme Court has agreed to a fast-track review of the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs, which a federal appeals court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority in imposing. The tariffs, including the "Liberation Day" tariffs, affect trillions of dollars in international commerce and have raised the average US tariff rate to its highest level in over a century. The case, stemming from lawsuits by Democratic-led states and small businesses, will be heard in November.

The producer price index unexpectedly declined 0.1% in August from the prior month, and it gained 2.6% from a year ago. Meanwhile, the core measure, which strips out food and energy prices, also declined 0.1% from the prior month while gaining 2.8% from a year ago.

Home Depot has acquired GMS, a distributor of ceilings, drywall and steel framing, for $5.5 billion, highlighting a shift toward vertical integration as a defense against tariffs. The move aims to protect the "Pro" segment, which generates nearly 50% of Home Depot's sales, from cost volatility. This strategy follows examples from Costco and Walmart, which have integrated supply chains to stabilize prices.

United Natural Foods has opened the Sarasota North Distribution Center in Florida, featuring advanced warehouse technology from Knapp, including the AI-powered Pick-it-Easy Robot and the Goods-to-Person automation system that will improve inventory management and order accuracy. The one million-square-foot facility replaces an older location, serves as a strategic hub near key transportation routes and includes amenities such as a gym and recreation spaces.

Imports of containerized goods were up 1.6% in August compared with the prior year, according to the supply chain technology business Descartes. Imports from China accounted for 35% of total volume, although volume from China was down 10.8% compared with a year ago.

AI can revolutionize business-to-business marketing, but it requires strategic oversight and human guidance, writes Ibrahim Hasanov, founder of Myuser. Marketers should use AI as a creative partner, training it with brand-specific content and regularly reviewing its outputs. "[B]uyers still crave human judgment, emotional intelligence, and narrative nuance, none of which AI can fully replicate," Hasanov writes.

Despite the hustle culture's insistence on speed, slowing down can be a strategic superpower for leaders who adopt the Navy SEAL mantra "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast," which focuses on deliberate pacing that allows for better preparation, clearer thinking and fewer costly mistakes, writes Natalie Nixon, the CEO of Figure 8 Thinking. To slow down, Nixon recommends putting thinking time on your calendar, allowing ideas, decisions and emails to "marinate" for a time to avoid mistakes and being strategic about turning away projects.

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