US consumer sentiment declined in September for the second consecutive month, with the University of Michigan's index dropping to 55.4, the lowest since May and a 21% drop from a year ago. Americans are increasingly worried about job security and inflation, with 65% expecting higher unemployment in the next year. This decline in sentiment follows recent economic data showing a net loss of jobs in June and a revision indicating 911,000 fewer employed people than previously reported.

QXO is pursuing a digital transformation under Chairman and CEO Brad Jacobs following its acquisition of Beacon. Jacobs has outlined a plan to rebuild the company's technology infrastructure, streamline organizational layers and embed data-driven decision-making processes across sales, procurement and logistics. The transformation includes rebranding Beacon's assets, reducing corporate layers, opening a national digital call center, overhauling pricing and analytics systems, embedding AI across operations and upgrading enterprise resource planning and business intelligence.

Manufacturers in North America increased stockpiling of raw materials and components in August, driven by concerns over tariffs, according to the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index. The measure reached its highest level in 2 1/2 years as manufacturers worked to mitigate rising purchasing costs.

Procurement leaders at major firms are experiencing heightened pressure due to tariffs, inflation and supplier volatility, according to ORO Labs' latest report. Half of the surveyed executives report above-normal pressure, and 16% say it's the toughest period in three years. Major tariff disruptions have led 86% to replace or expect to replace suppliers this year, underscoring the intensifying procurement environment.

Software supply chain threats are escalating as organizations depend more on third-party code, open-source packages and AI models, often without adequate oversight. Attackers are targeting public repositories by inserting malicious code into seemingly legitimate packages, compromising development pipelines and enabling downstream attacks such as data theft and account takeovers. Experts warn that misconfigured build environments and insufficient visibility into software components and supply chains perpetuate these risks.

B2B marketing is shifting from traditional sales pitches to education-led strategies as buyers increasingly conduct extensive research before engaging with vendors, writes Kim Lawton, founder and CEO of Enthuse Marketing Group. This approach positions brands as trusted authorities by providing valuable, actionable insights, addressing the complexities of modern buying cycles that often involve multiple stakeholders and prolonged decision-making. "When you apply learning frameworks to your strategy, you stop pushing content and start enabling decisions," Lawton writes.

The constant barrage of notifications and information has led to what researchers call "continuous partial attention," making it difficult to focus on important tasks, writes Danny Kenny who notes that attention can be trained like a muscle. Drawing on insights from NYU social psychologist Emily Balcetis, Kenny offers techniques such as using specific points of focus for your eyes, thinking about how present actions connect to future outcomes and planning positive solutions to anticipated obstacles. "Obstacles will arise, and you'll pivot rather than panic because you've already rehearsed the response," Kenny writes.

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