Businesses’ preference for leaner inventory structures delayed the start of this year’s peak shipping season, reports BMO Capital Markets in its latest market report. The late-arriving peak matches industry forecasts that a pickup in rail business wouldn’t begin until September, instead of the usual August, as companies make do with leaner inventory.

Consumer confidence in technology reached its highest level of the year in October, according to the latest data release from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The CEA Indexes also show that confidence in the overall economy improved this month as well.

Overall new business volume for the equipment finance sector in September was $7.1 billion, up 25 percent from volume of $5.7 billion in the same period in 2010, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index. Volume was also up 25 percent from the previous month for this $628 billion business sector. Year-to-date cumulative new business volume is up 25 percent as well.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and supply chain standards body GS1 US are sponsoring new research being conducted by the University of Arkansas on the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) in the apparel supply chain. The researchers will seek to measure the benefits that apparel suppliers can achieve through adopting RFID based on Electronic Product Code (EPC) standards.

Optimism about the prospects for the U.S. and world economy over the next 12 months hit all-time lows among U.S. industrial manufacturers, according to the findings of the Q3 2011 Manufacturing Barometer released today by PwC US. While only five percent of U.S. industrial manufacturers are optimistic about the prospects of the U.S. economy over the next 12 months, the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2008, a vast majority are uncertain, rather than outright pessimistic.

Ocean carrier Horizon Lines, Inc. announced it will discontinue its Five Star Express (FSX) trans-Pacific container shipping service between the U.S. West Coast, Guam and China.

The Panama Canal Authority and the Port of Miami have renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote trade opportunities and share best customer practices.

The power of enterprise computing fits in the palm of your hand these days, and consumers are sharing in that power thanks to smart phones. Many of those consumers also have supply chain jobs and are responsible for supplying fellow consumers. That brings to mind a strange phenomenon that may be starting as sales of iPhone and iPad devices grow.

Government employers might be able to learn a thing or two about safety practices from private sector employers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Illness and injury rates for public sector workers overall are at 5.7 cases for every 100 workers, which is more than 60 percent higher than the private sector rate.

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Most of the major third-party logistics providers (3PLs) experienced improved economic conditions in 2010, with 88% of companies surveyed in North America meeting or exceeding their revenue projections, as compared with only 50% in 2009, according to a survey of 3PLs conducted by Robert Lieb, professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University, and underwritten by Penske Logistics, a 3PL.

The "Occupy Wall Street" movement have picked the wrong targets for their wrath. Senior executives are said to be victimized by "high stress, shaky stability and long hours that affect family time."

Maintaining a good OSHA record is more important than ever, as OSHA citations can be as much as $70,000 for a single repeat or willful violation. Not only are fines going up under OSHA's increased emphasis on enforcement, but customers, insurance companies and others are increasingly scrutinizing a company's OSHA record as a condition of doing business. Proper handling of an OSHA inspection can help minimize this liability, say attorneys from Sherman & Howard's Occupational Safety and Health Law Group in their new "Employer's Guide to OSHA Inspections."