Intermodal Data & Rising Costs in the CPG/Retail Landscape

Hey, friends! It's Isaiah here with a quick recap of today's chat with Mike Baudendistel, the sonar whiz from 'The Stockout'. We kicked off the week diving into some cool insights about intermodal data. Mike shared that while intermodal volumes are up by about 8%, it's mostly thanks to international shipments zooming ahead, not domestic ones. This is super important for companies and analysts who need to understand what's going on with shipping and transport rates. Speaking of rates, CPG companies are seeing some nice cost cuts in their intermodal contracts this year. On the ocean side, imports are sailing high with an 8.8% increase. Retail inventory levels are also stirring the pot, being lower than usual, which impacts everything from imports to how trucks and trains compete in moving goods around. And for those with a sweet tooth, rising cocoa and sugar costs mean we might have to shell out more for our chocolate treats in the future. Mike also touched on some hot topics like Amazon's legal battles and big retail mergers. If you're craving more, you can catch Mike's show or subscribe to his newsletter for the latest scoop on all things CPG and retail. Until next time, stay savvy and keep tuning in!