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Strike shuts down St. Lawrence Seaway, a main commercial artery

Oct 23, 2023
A shutdown will affect farmers exporting products from Canada, mostly to Europe and the Middle East.
The Seaway was built by the U.S. and Canadian governments in the 1950s to connect the upper Midwestern states and prairie provinces to global markets.
Andrej Ivanov/AFP via Getty Images

Why does furniture fall apart so easily?

Sep 27, 2023
Furniture used to last a lifetime. Now, not so much. But how did we get here?
"A great place to buy long-lasting furniture is a vintage furniture store, right? The proof is in the pudding that it's well made because it's lasting long enough for you to be able to purchase it right now," said Washington Post reporter Rachel Kurzius.
jozzeppe/Getty Images

FedEx and UPS hike prices for 2024, but not as much

Sep 11, 2023
Shipping companies need to cover their higher costs, but there's a limit to how much they can pass on to customers.
Carriers like UPS and FedEx know there is a limit to how much they can raise prices, said Jason Miller of Michigan State.
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Why Yellow's trucking terminals are attracting billion dollar bids

Aug 24, 2023
As Yellow is sold for parts in bankruptcy court, one group of assets is getting all the attention: Its terminals.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images

FedEx meets lowered demand for shipping with cost-cutting and layoffs

Jun 21, 2023
As consumers favor services over buying goods, FedEx and other shippers are feeling the pinch.
FedEx is spending more on wages and equipment while people are choosing experiences over goods.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

West Coast ports lost market share. Will they get it back?

May 8, 2023
Stung by supply chain breakdowns and worried about labor unrest, many shippers have rerouted goods to the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Congested supply chains may finally be easing as inventories fall

Dec 6, 2022
Retailers have managed to offload excess inventory, and global shipping is returning to pre-pandemic normal.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

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How twin sisters launched an artisanal Cuban cigar shop in Miami

Oct 25, 2022
"Sharing a room with another alpha female is not easy. [...] We know how to work with each other at this point," says Yvette Rodriguez.
Yvette and Yvonne Rodriguez, owners of Tres Lindas Cubanas Cigars.
Courtesy Tres Lindas Cubanas Cigars

It costs how much to ship that? How one commission is tackling inflation at the ports

Sep 20, 2022
A new law has given the Federal Maritime Commission the teeth it needs to tackle high shipping fees and congestion at the ports.
President Joe Biden believes taming shipping freight costs is an integral part of bringing inflation back down. He has empowered the Federal Maritime Commission to tackle it at the ports.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

These small businesses still feel supply chain pressures, even if data says they're easing

Jul 19, 2022
Shipping costs, wait times and sourcing materials are still a big problem for business owners in South Carolina and Calif.
Some businesses have had to adjust shipping strategies — like opting to ship by rail — to circumvent delays at ports.
Mario Tama/Getty Images