Latest News From Retail Business

Michael Swanson says we’ve likely seen the peak for food inflation last summer. What drove the 14% food inflation since the COVID pandemic has been four factors: transportation, labor, shipping and packaging. 

Lower grocery prices highlighted the March Consumer Price Index, but the annual food inflation rate remains well above the all-items index.

Rich Redmond has created a no-nonsense system to supercharge your personal and professional life, whether you are a farmer or the drummer for Jason Aldean.

In celebration of National Ag Day and National Ag Week, the 2023 Feeding the Economy report shows just how vital the industry is to U.S. families, communities and the world.

Experts say the Fed is looking for signs of weakness in the economy before deciding interest rates have been raised sufficiently to curb inflation. Some signs are available now, says Vince Malanga, LaSalle Economics.

The consumer no longer can absorb higher costs. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says that lighter foot traffic is seen in some grocery stores, while discount retailers have seen a significant increase in foot traffic.

Friday brought mixed news for the economy. So, is the U.S. officially in a recession? K-State economists say it's more important to watch changes in behaviors versus debating the definition of recession.

Global diesel and distillate fuel stocks have fallen to dangerous levels and the U.S. has been exporting a lot of diesel to Europe and Latin America, but now things are changing.

For a fifth straight month, the rural economy has posted signs of trouble. That’s according to the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University.

U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh remained optimistic about contract negotiations between workers and shipping companies for some of the country’s most important ports, even as talks extend past a previous deadline.

Heat seemed to be the focus of the markets this week. Two veteran market analysts say if this heat continues, and drought becomes an even larger concern, commodities could see a violent run-up in prices.

Even with the partial ban by the European Union, one industry expert says it's possible diesel prices will see a slight reprieve in the coming weeks; however, it won't come in the form of dollars.

From recruitment to retention to building trust in the workplace, AgCareers.com will host their annual HR Roundtable on June 15, discussing current trends and issues in the agriculture industry workforce.

The White House is considering waiving U.S. gasoline environmental rules aimed at reducing summertime smog, hoping the waiver will combat rising pump prices, Reuters reported.

U.S. diesel prices are the highest ever, with warnings of shortages, especially in the eastern U.S., and the most intensive part of the farming season is still ahead.

A little bit better is a little bit better, said Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health. Matthews dispels myths about mental health, counseling and anxiety on the farm.

For 17 straight months, the rural economy has posted healthy and consistent growth. That’s according to the March Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University.

There may never be a more important time to focus on the relationships with your employees.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis sent wheat prices skyrocketing 50 cents higher, with corn up 30 cents at one point Thursday. Crude oil also soared above $100 per barrel, hitting the highest level since 2014. 

For 14 straight months, the rural economy has posted healthy and consistent growth.

On Monday the People’s Bank of China also announced a 0.1 percentage point cut to two of its key policy rates. It acted after GDP grew by more than 8% in 2021, but slowed down in the fourth quarter.

The crisis and pain of procrastination are gifts. Think of them as an alarm bell. When it sounds, you know you need to engage in a relationship that will allow you to focus on what you enjoy most and are best at doing.

Commodity markets were on a rollercoaster ride this week, with a sharp drop to end November and then a recovery to end the first few days of December. Analysts say that volatility might just be getting started.

Nearly two years after COVID-19 invaded our world, we are still living with its disruptions, but we should not overlook the more traditional factors also at play.

The critical nature of the ag industry has required many ag employers continue business operations as normal. AgCareers.com’s annual Agribusiness HR Review survey of ag employers assesses employers’ COVID responses.

IHS Markit’s Ken Ericksen joins AgriTalk to share supply chain discussions while Leprino Foods’ Mike Durkin gives testimony at House Ag Committee hearing to emphasize dairy export issues.

Cyber criminals strike the agricultural industry once more. This time, a dairy processing company in Wisconsin. Senators Grassley and Ernst take the Floor while Resilience’s Davis Hake talks insurance.

For nearly a year, the rural economy has shown consistent growth, according to the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI).

China said on Saturday it pressed the United States to eliminate tariffs in talks between the countries' top trade officials that Washington saw as a test of bilateral engagement between the world's biggest economies.

As backlogs at U.S. ports and climbing shipping rates plague the supply chain, new data shows container shipping rates between the U.S and China are dropping by more than 50% in  just a month. 

Possible tax changes on the table in Washington are causing angst in agriculture. Secretary Vilsack says the proposed changes won't impact 98% of family farms, but another analysis contradicts those claims.

AgCareers.com is launching its 2021-2022 season of Feed Your Future virtual career fairs across the United States. 

The Biden Administration’s policies are expected to impact roughly 100 million working Americans. Here’s what you need to know.

Demand for ag workers has employers turning to the H-2A program more often. New data from the Department of Labor shows the highest rate of growth is in the fruit, nuts and vegetable categories, up more than 330%.

Paul Neiffer says one of the biggest benefits in the House’s proposed plan is farmers won’t be hit with increased taxes at death, as the transfer tax is no longer included and the full step-up in basis remains.

New WHIP+ legislation made its way out of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday. The $8.5B bill expands not only the type of weather events and resulted losses covered, but also the level of drought needed to qualify.

Talent is rarer than ever. Attracting it and keeping it is your key to success. Culture is king. Go see your people, and listen one-on-one.

U.S. ag is suffering from a labor shortage that could increase production costs and consumer food prices if not addressed through visa reform to provide better access to the foreign-born workers on which it depends.

CoBank says challenges brought on by COVID-19 will speed up automation throughout many sectors of the supply chain. Here's a deeper look at the animal protein industries in CoBank's latest report.

Rural America continues to see strong economic gains. For the eighth straight month, the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index remained above growth neutral.

U.S. inflation rose 5.4% in June, marking the highest annual rate since 2008. However, some good news may be on the horizon as a survey shows economists expect inflation is to ease off historic highs later this year.

President Biden is tackling anti-competitive issues in the U.S. with a new Executive Order. Signed Friday at the White House, the order could have a sweeping impact on agriculture.

Cargill's CEO says the company is in the middle of a major shakeup as it says consumers will continue to demand more plant-based protein products.

To build a more resilient supply chain, the White House just published a 250-page report with assessments and an expansive list of recommendations.

The world’s largest meat producer was the latest victim of a cyberattack. And as the food chain relies more on automation and less on manual labor, cyberattacks may be a rising risk for the food chain.

Farmers who insured their crops and planted cover crops will now be eligible for a financial bonus from USDA. Not all crops are included in the new program, and acres need to be reported by June 15th.

The latest round of agricultural credit condition surveys from the Federal Reserve banks shows improved strength in the agricultural economy.

This week Chip Flory and Jim Wiesemeyer discuss fast internet for rural America as Democrats could still “go alone” on infrastructure bill.

Inflation concerns are heating up as fresh data from the Labor Department shows U.S. consumer prices have risen more than 4% over the past year, marking the sharpest increase since 2008.

Restaurants closing early. Sign after sign plastered along roadsides with businesses looking for help. The hiring issue is crippling everything from manufacturing to the restaurant industry today.