🔥🫣🏗️ Stimulus Spark, Gen Zapped, & Port-tential Shutdown

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Good morning! ☀️

👉 The S&P 500 and Dow hit record highs, shrugging off weak U.S. consumer confidence. What’s behind the boom? China’s massive stimulus package is doing some heavy lifting! 📈💰

👉 Meanwhile, Gen Z workers are getting a quick exit, with companies cutting ties just months after hiring. Are we ghosting the next workforce too soon? 👻🤔

👉 And to keep things spicy, the Port of New York-New Jersey is prepping for a potential dockworker strike on October 1st. Get those shipments moving or risk some serious bottlenecks! 🚢🚦

Let’s dash through the headlines and keep your supply chain running smooth!

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“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

— Zig Ziglar

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Market Rally Despite Consumer Confidence Dip

The S&P 500 and Dow hit record highs, shaking off weak U.S. consumer confidence data. The big kicker? China’s massive stimulus package! This gave mining stocks a major boost, with copper and lithium on the rise.

Chinese companies like Alibaba also surged, while tech stocks had mixed results—Nvidia up, Visa down (thanks to antitrust issues). Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman flagged inflation concerns, but overall, mining and material sectors led the charge.

💡 Why You Should Care: If you're in transportation and logistics, China’s stimulus could shake up supply chains—especially for raw materials like metals. The mining surge might mean more freight movement and increased demand for commodities like copper and lithium.

🔥 Hot Take: China's stimulus = more raw material demand. Expect freight volumes to rise and shipping to heat up!

Check out the full scoop on Reuters 👇

Read more at Reuters >

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Are Companies Firing Gen Z Too Fast?

A new report from Intelligent.com shows that companies are cutting ties with Gen Z hires just months after bringing them onboard. The surprising part? 60% of employers who hired recent grads in 2024 have already fired them! 😳

The issue, according to HR pros, might not be with Gen Z but with a gap between what schools teach and the skills needed for the real world. Many grads enter the workforce lacking practical experience and soft skills, and companies aren't stepping up with enough training. Instead of firing new hires, experts are calling for stronger onboarding and mentorship to help bridge this gap.

💡 Why It Matters: This trend could be a warning for industries like transportation and logistics. If young talent doesn’t stick around or get the skills they need, it could lead to future workforce shortages and higher training costs.

🔥 Hot Take: If companies keep ghosting Gen Z before they can settle in, we might hit a labor shortage faster than expected.

Read more at Newsweek >

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Strike Alert: Port of NY-NJ Preps for Shutdown

Heads up, shippers! The second busiest U.S. port, New York-New Jersey, is gearing up for a potential dockworker strike starting October 1st. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), repping 25,000 workers, is set to walk off the job as their contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) expires. Key issues? Wages, benefits, and port automation.

Port Director Bethann Rooney is urging everyone to wrap up cargo operations by September 30th. Expect delays, heavy congestion, and extended gate hours. Extra focus on refrigerated and hazardous materials, which won’t be monitored after the strike hits. Even train schedules will be impacted, with the last ones coming in Monday.

💡 Why Care? This strike could cause serious supply chain chaos. Delays, missed deliveries, and some major headaches are on the horizon.

🔥 Hot Take: Get ready—your supply chain might go from 'smooth sailing' to 'treading water' in no time.

Read more at Freight Waves >

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Daily Riddle:

I guide you through, yet I'm not a map,

I offer advice without a single app.

I help you grow, but not from a seed,

I share my knowledge, so you can succeed.

What am I?

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Previous Riddle Answer: Electronics

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