U.S. trade policy continues to evolve rapidly under President Donald Trump’s second term, with a series of executive orders, reciprocal tariff implementations, and ongoing negotiations reshaping international supply chains. Since early 2025, the administration has imposed widespread duties — citing national security, trade deficits, fentanyl flows, and migration — while reaching framework deals with several partners and facing legal challenges. As of the latest updates (Janua

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) recently released its Transportation Producer Price Index (PPI)  data for November 2025, providing valuable insight into the inflationary pressures facing the logistics and freight industry. Released on January 14, 2026 (BTS 26-09), this index measures changes in the costs producers face when purchasing transportation services and equipment — a key indicator for shippers monitoring freight expenses. From November 2024 to November

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released encouraging data this week: The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)  rose 1.2%  in November 2025 compared to October, marking a rebound after two consecutive months of declines. On a year-over-year basis, the index also increased 1.2%  from November 2024. This Freight TSI serves as a key economic barometer, tracking the volume of freight moved by the for-hire transportation sect

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is implementing significant changes to how package tracking data is accessed, effective April 2026 . This update, announced in a recent Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) advisory, focuses on bolstering security without disrupting the everyday experience for individual consumers and direct shippers. Here’s a clear breakdown of the upcoming changes and how businesses can prepare. No Changes for Everyday Consumers and Direct Shippers The good news first:

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook today, providing a detailed forecast for energy markets through 2027. The key takeaways include declining oil prices due to oversupply, modest adjustments in U.S. crude production, upward pressure on natural gas prices, and strong growth in electricity demand driven by renewables—particularly solar. These trends will have direct implications for transportation costs, freight budgeti

In today's hyper-connected global supply chains, a single cyber breach can halt shipments, spike costs, and disrupt operations for weeks. A new report from Everstream Analytics paints a sobering picture: cyberattacks targeting logistics companies are expected to double in 2026 , building on years of explosive growth. The numbers are staggering. Since 2021, incidents affecting carriers, ports, 3PLs, and other logistics providers have surged nearly 1,000% . In 2025 alone, cyber

In the ever-evolving world of international supply chains, trade truly does go where it's wanted and stays where it's appreciated. As highlighted in recent analysis by Stuart Chirls, November 2025 marked a stark divergence: global container demand surged 7.2% year-over-year , driven by robust growth across most regions—yet U.S. import volumes fell 3.9% , the eighth consecutive month of declines tied closely to ongoing trade tensions under President Trump's policies. This isn'

In a welcome development for shippers seeking cost-effective delivery options, UPS  and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)  have finalized a renewed agreement that brings the Postal Service back into the fold for select Ground Saver  and Mail Innovations  deliveries. After a year-long separation, this partnership is set to resume imminently, promising greater flexibility and expanded coverage for UPS's economical shipping service. A Return to Proven Collaboration The renewed deal

The latest Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI)  for December 2025 registered at 54.2 , down 1.5 points from November's 55.7. While still indicating overall expansion (above 50), this marks the slowest growth since April 2024 and continues a trend of readings below the historical average. The report highlights a dramatic downstream push of inventories driven by robust holiday consumer spending, relieving backlog pressures but tightening transportation markets. Key Highlights from

The logistics landscape is undergoing significant turbulence as UPS advances its "Network of the Future" initiative amid sweeping changes in U.S. trade policy. Recent reports highlight major disruptions, including the seizure of approximately $32 million  in undeliverable packages following a major hub closure, widespread disposals due to customs compliance issues, and ongoing facility shutdowns. These developments are creating challenges for shippers, particularly those reli

As we kick off 2026, the latest data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) brings welcome news for drivers and fleet operators alike. Motor fuel prices closed out December 2025 with notable declines in most categories, offering some relief amid ongoing supply chain and logistics challenges. National Averages: Gasoline Down, Diesel Mixed Regular Gasoline : The national average price dropped to $2.89 per gallon  in December 2025. This represents a 5.1% decrease  fr

The latest S&P Global US Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) data for December 2025 indicates a continued, though moderated, improvement in operating conditions across the US manufacturing sector. The headline PMI registered 51.8 , down from 52.2 in November, marking the softest expansion in the current five-month growth sequence. While the sector remains in expansion territory (above the 50 no-change mark), the slowdown highlights emerging challenges, particular

Less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers reported divergent performance in November 2025, underscoring the persistent softness in the broader freight market. While some carriers experienced significant tonnage declines, others posted modest gains—highlighting the volatility driven by economic headwinds, post-tariff inventory adjustments, and seasonal factors. Volume Softness Dominates, With Notable Exceptions Major LTL players saw varied tonnage results: Old Dominion Freight Line  

The latest Cass Freight Index report for November 2025 offers a snapshot of a freight market navigating post-tariff adjustments, seasonal holiday dynamics, and emerging weather impacts. While shipments showed modest recovery, expenditures remained subdued, reflecting ongoing pressures from lower volumes and shifting modal mixes. Shipments Rebound Slightly, But Annual Declines Persist The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index rose 0.7% month-over-month (m/m) in Novembe

The latest semiannual economic forecast from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), released on December 16, 2025, delivers encouraging news for the U.S. economy—particularly for the manufacturing sector. According to reporting by Jeff Berman in Logistics Management , the ISM anticipates a notable rebound in manufacturing activity in 2026, while the services sector is expected to continue its steady expansion. Key Highlights from the ISM Forecast Manufacturing Revenue Gro

Amazon just hit a milestone that should have every parcel carrier and grocery competitor paying attention: same-day fresh grocery delivery is now available in 2,300 U.S. cities and towns  — more than double the 1,000 areas it covered in August. On the surface, this is about selling more bananas and steak. Under the hood, it’s a masterclass in using perishables as a Trojan horse  to lock in everyday parcel volume. The Numbers Tell the Story Grocery selection up 30%  since Augu

The verdict from the latest Armada/SMC3 data is blunt: freight demand remains sporadic, elusive, and stubbornly weak . Consumer and corporate sentiment are near recessionary levels The lower half of household spending is evaporating Inflation is masking flat-to-negative unit volumes $5+ trillion of “announced” investment is nowhere to be seen in actual freight In short, the hoped-for 2026 freight rebound is still a forecast, not a reality. The Hard Numbers Sector 2025 Reality

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics released its October 2025 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) yesterday, and the headline is unambiguous: Freight TSI: 136.7 ↓ 1.2% from September ↓ 1.2% year-over-year This marks the second consecutive monthly decline and the first year-over-year drop since mid-2023. For supply chain leaders, the TSI remains one of the most reliable leading indicators of economic momentum — and right now it is flashing yellow. Key Takeawa

The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) registered 55.7  in November, a decline of 1.7 points from October and the lowest reading since June 2024. While the index remains in expansion territory (above 50), the slowdown signals that the extraordinary inventory buildup of the past eleven months is finally unwinding. A historic shift occurred in the warehousing sector: Warehousing Utilization fell into contraction at 47.5  — the first sub-50 reading in the nine-year history of the L

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) just dropped its December Short-Term Energy Outlook—and the headline is unambiguous: global oil inventories are set to swell through 2026 , pushing Brent crude to an average of $55 per barrel  starting in Q1 and holding near that level for the rest of the year. That’s a ~25% drop from today’s $73–74/b levels and the lowest annual average since 2021. At Gain Consulting, we treat energy the same way we treat capacity: a leading i