On March 6, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the trade deficit for goods and services has reached $41.8 billion. That’s the highest it has ever been. And, that number is expected to grow because of weak economic growth overseas and a strong dollar. This says a lot about the health of the…
For the past 15 years, China’s economy has been booming because of their large manufacturing industry. However, times are shifting and, China is moving away from dependence on exports. Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University said, “China is changing from a producer model to a consumer model. That’s an enormous opportunity for the…
Allergies and food bourne illnesses are becoming more and more common in the U.S. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to prevent these problems from resulting because of misinformation on restaurant menus. New labeling guidelines were just released by the FDA for restaurants and food establishments. The guidelines are supposed to be easier…
Target Corp. has had a rough year — they are still trying to recover from a massive data breach where millions of customers’ credit cards were compromised. On top of that, business has been sluggish compared to competitor Wal-Mart. In an attempt to push through, Target corp. has decided to eliminate several thousand jobs and…
Most of the clothing, electronics, and agricultural goods you buy are not made in the U.S. They are imported from developing countries, such as China. The Obama administration is pushing for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to create fair competition in the Asia-Pacific region. Their goal is to create an environment where “Made in America” goods…
Several companies are investigating 3D printing because it could revolutionize the supply chain industry. Instead of having items made in a third-world country and then shipped around the world, 3D printing opens up the possibility of making products anywhere and minimizing shipping needs. This means 3D printing could save companies millions of dollars each year…
Many car manufacturers are no longer looking to the west coast ports for their supply chain needs. The eight month long labor dispute between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union at the west coast ports caused serious delays. Car manufacturers faced shortages in their electronics, transmissions, and other parts that…
Homes just keep getting smarter. You can setup home automation systems to control your thermostat, blinds, outlets, lights, and almost anything else in your home all from the use of a tablet or mobile device. Now, Visa is predicting smarter refrigerators that will let you order groceries from a panel on the front door. That…
President Dilma Rousseff recently created diesel fuel taxes to help the government in Brazil shore up their fiscal accounts. This has caused fuel prices to skyrocket where most places around the world are actually experiencing lower than normal fuel. The diesel tax took effect on February 1, making a gallon of gas reach $4.15. Brazilian…
Tired drivers are a real problem in the logistics industry. Truck drivers are paid by the amount of goods they are able to transport in a certain amount of time. So, some drivers push themselves to meet tight goals by sacrificing sleep. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recognizes the safety hazard this presents…