US business activity decelerated in August but remained in expansion territory, with the S&P Global flash US Composite PMI dropping from 54.6 in August to 53.6 in September. Manufacturing activity declined from 53 last month to 52, while the services sector gauge slipped from 54.5 to 53.9. Companies reported struggling to pass higher costs on to consumers amid weak demand and increased competition, with most absorbing tariffs instead of raising prices.

C&S Wholesale Grocers has finalized its $1.77 billion acquisition of SpartanNash, creating a company with more than 30,000 employees, nearly 60 distribution centers and more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores. "The industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and both our customers and our own businesses must evolve at or ahead of that pace, in order to compete effectively and win," says C&S CEO Eric Winn.

Software investment company Thoma Bravo has agreed to acquire PROS Holdings, a provider of AI-powered pricing solutions for B2B companies, particularly distributors and manufacturers managing complex product portfolios. The all-cash deal worth about $1.4 billion is expected to close in the fourth quarter and will take PROS private.

Consumers are increasingly prioritizing free shipping over fast delivery, according to Ryder's 2025 E-commerce Consumer Study. The study found that 76% of consumers say free shipping is the most important factor when choosing where to shop online, up from 64% in 2023. However, only 29% expect shipping within 1-2 days, down from 34% in 2024. The study also notes a rise in scheduled delivery preference, with 31% finding it more important than fast shipping.

Embedded analytics helps organizations go beyond basic data collection by integrating actionable insights into software tools that employees already use. It allows companies to make real-time decisions without relying on IT specialists and to develop analytics solutions. 

Agentic AI is transforming B2B digital commerce by acting autonomously and reasoning across complex data, says Commerce.com B2B General Manager Lance Owide. Unlike traditional automation, agentic AI "can understand intent, respond dynamically to buyer behavior, and optimize over time without human intervention," Owide says.

Cardboard box shipments have dropped to their lowest levels since 2016. After a surge during the pandemic, demand for corrugated packaging has reversed, affected by weakening consumer spending, uncertainty in boardrooms and changes in e-commerce shipping practices. Slumping cardboard demand is seen as a potential sign of the American economy and consumer, as cardboard packaging or shipping boxes are present in a significant percentage of purchases.

Small businesses are no longer driving US job growth, raising concerns about the labor market and overall economic health. The National Federation of Independent Business reports that the share of small firms reporting unfilled job openings dropped to 32% in August, the lowest since July 2020. Since small businesses have driven over half of job creation in recent years, their reduced hiring activity could make already fragile economic growth more susceptible to a downturn.

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