Uline has been selected to receive the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' 2026 Distributors Deliver Award for industry leadership, community engagement and innovation. Employees participate in activities such as food drives, roadside cleanups, and donations to early education programs, reflecting Uline's corporate values and dedication to social responsibility. President Liz Uihlein will accept the award at the upcoming NAW Institute Gala in Washington, D.C.

November retail sales, excluding autos and gas, rose 0.1% in November from the prior month and 4.5% over November 2024, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor powered by Affinity Solutions. CNBC's Steve Liesman reports on the numbers and stresses the issue of timing -- Cyber Monday fell in December this year instead of November, and surveys showed Thanksgiving weekend shoppers still had more than half of their holiday shopping to do.

Brad Jacobs will step down as chairman of XPO and GXO Logistics at the end of the month to focus on Jacobs Private Equity and QXO, the building materials distribution platform launched in 2023 that acquired Beacon Building Products. Jacobs will remain a senior adviser to XPO through June 30. XPO CEO Mario Harik will take over as board chairman, and Patrick Byrne will become a nonexecutive chairman at GXO.

US corporate income tax revenue declined by about one-third from July through November, down around $52 billion from a year earlier, according to federal Treasury data. Major US companies are raking in tax savings, not because of a lower tax rate, but due to a series of tax breaks and incentives. Tax breaks for new investments and research and development costs are among the chief incentives, allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of these expenses in the first year, rather than spreading them out over several years.

Sustainable profitability is the foundational driver for distributors, surpassing top-line sales growth as it provides resources to reinvest, fund the company's future and weather disruptions to build something that lasts, writes Cavallo CEO Michael Biwer. Whereas revenue growth can mask underlying issues and increase stress, profitability requires clarity with every order and customer, understanding the real costs, using pricing discipline to protect margins, and relying on technology and employees to make informed decisions.

Walmart is highlighting its ability to deliver to 95% of US households within three hours to attract last-minute shoppers during the holiday season. The "Get it Now" feature in the Walmart app enables customers to see delivery times and place orders with one tap. The move is part of a broader trend among retailers to enhance delivery speed, with companies such as Best Buy and Dollar General also touting same-day delivery through partnerships with services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.

A growing number of companies are hiring professional storytellers to humanize their brands and stand out in a crowded market. Firms like Google, Microsoft, USAA and Chime now have dedicated storytelling teams creating blogs, podcasts, executive speeches and other content to deepen engagement with customers and investors.

Marketers anticipate a much more volatile 2026 compared to this year (64%), with 52% expecting tighter budgets and 51% forecasting reduced headcounts, according to Forrester's "Predictions 2026: B2C Marketing" report. The report highlights challenges such as price hikes, AI-driven privacy breaches and decreasing confidence in measurement. AI implementation remains a hurdle, with 37% of employees confident in adapting AI systems.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has expressed support for President Donald Trump's executive order to unify federal AI policy and reduce regulatory complexity from varying state laws. "NAW has long advocated for federal leadership on AI policy that fosters innovation while minimizing inconsistent burdensome requirements that can impede wholesaler-distributors' ability to deploy new technology in an efficient, responsible manner," the association said in a statement.

Sixty-eight percent of CEOs plan to increase AI investment in 2026, despite less than half of AI projects generating returns so far, according to a survey by Teneo. CEOs have seen the most success in marketing and customer service, while facing challenges in security and HR. Interestingly, 67% of CEOs believe AI will boost entry-level hiring.

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