Supply chain

Peter Goodman of The New York Times discusses the complex inner workings of our fragile system and why it broke down during the pandemic.

Wholesalers supply both retailers and manufacturers.

United and Southwest have also paused hiring because of the delivery delays. Higher airfares could be on the way.

Baltimore's port could be closed for months, keeping people out of work and leaving freighters looking for places to route their loads.

Cargo ships have grown since the Francis Scott Key Bridge was built. Collisions have greater impact, physically and economically.

And there's no telling how long it'll take to reopen the port. Other East Coast ports will have to handle some of the shipping traffic.

Businesses have spent the last year and a half trying to whittle down excess inventories. Some businesses still have work to do, but others are likely to build those inventories up this year.

Many businesses bulked up on warehouse space early in the pandemic. Now, storing extra inventory isn’t as important, and surplus warehouse space is being put to alternative uses.

The Logistics Managers Index fell the most since April 2022, when inventories were up and shipping and warehouse costs were sky-high.

Does weakening demand for shipping suggest a downturn in 2024, or might there be signs of brighter days ahead for the freight industry?