Home Depot-owned SRS Distribution has acquired Specialty Wood Products, a premium decking, siding and heavy timber products distributor in Aurora, Colo., which will continue to operate under its current leadership. The acquisition aims to broaden SRS' service offerings to luxury homebuilders and commercial projects.

Home Depot has launched an AI-powered Blueprint Takeoff tool for professional contractors to streamline the material estimation and project planning process and to enhance in-store operations. The tool uses advanced algorithms to generate accurate blueprint takeoffs and material lists in significantly less time, replacing a traditionally manual and time-consuming task. By simplifying the procurement process, Home Depot enables pros to purchase all necessary materials through a single supplier, enhancing efficiency for larger projects.

The US freight market is experiencing a significant downturn as tariffs on China and India have led to a sharp decline in imports. October marks the first time this year that rates for flatbed, vans and refrigerated loads all dropped on a monthly and yearly basis as shippers rely on built-up inventory and consumer demand dips, according to the DAT Truckload Volume Index. Experts note this downturn is not a seasonal dip but a structural recession, with container utilization falling and spot rates at two-year lows. The freight contraction is affecting the entire supply chain, including railroads, trucking, warehouses, and port labor.

Supply chain transparency has shifted from a reputational advantage to a necessity, driven by regulatory demands and consumer expectations, writes Oritain CEO Alyn Franklin. Companies are increasingly using scientific origin verification to ensure the authenticity of raw materials, addressing issues such as forced labor and environmental impact.

USPS is set to implement another round of shipping rate increases starting Jan. 18, affecting most of its services except for First-Class Mail stamps. The price hikes will range from about 4.9% for Connect Local to nearly 10% for some commercial packages. These changes are part of USPS's ongoing 10-year transformation plan aimed at maintaining service quality and financial stability in the face of rising costs and market pressures.

Humanoid robots are approaching the capability to perform repetitive manufacturing tasks safely and reliably, thanks to advancements in materials science, AI and safety frameworks. Boston Dynamics has transitioned its Atlas robot to electric actuators and enhanced its dexterity through pre-training and demonstration learning. A modular safety control framework is being developed to ensure functional safety, although certification for humanoid robots remains a challenge.

B2B marketers are focusing on demand capture at the expense of brand-building as budgets tighten, but research from Initiative, YouGov and Google Trends indicates brand-building is a more significant driver of commercial outcomes, with fame 24% more correlated with buying intent than demand activation. Kandace Barker of Initiative recommends marketers audit their brand performance, collaborate with finance and sales on metrics, and invest in creativity to balance brand and demand efforts.

Content testing should be an integral, ongoing part of the workflow rather than a quarterly task after campaign launches, writes Innervate's Mitchell Weisman. Weisman recommends using AI to generate creative options quickly, automating multivariate tests across formats and audiences, and real-time optimization to promote top-performing content.

Inflation is pushing 64% of small- and midsize-business owners to raise prices in 2026, and 39% intend to curb spending, according to a Bank of America report. The report also shows that 75% of businesses with yearly revenue over $100,000 and up to $50 million are experiencing supply chain issues. Despite this, 74% expect revenue growth, and 60% plan to expand.

Federal Reserve officials cut their benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point at their October meeting, although some expressed caution about inflation. In addition, minutes from the meeting show that many officials expressed support for additional rate cuts, although not necessarily at the upcoming December meeting. "Participants expressed strongly differing views" about a December cut, according to the minutes.

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