CNBC Survey: U.S. Supply Chain Data Reveals Holiday Retail Winners and Losers

Holiday Freight Volume Trends

• 🚚 63% of respondents reported moving more holiday-related freight this year compared to last year, indicating a positive trend for transport stocks.
• 📈 Freight volumes have seen increases of up to 10% for the holidays.

Top Performing Product Categories

• 🏠 Housewares led the list of products moving from warehouses to stores, followed by apparel, promotional items, and toys.
• 💎 Aspirational luxury, luxury goods, high-end furniture, and low-end furniture ranked lower in terms of warehouse movement.

E-commerce vs. Brick-and-Mortar Performance

• 💻 E-commerce volumes grew year-over-year, with increases between 1% and 10%.
• 🛒 Promotional items were the top items sold directly to consumers via e-commerce, reflecting a cost-conscious consumer.

2026 Outlook and Industry Challenges

• 📉 57% of respondents believe logistics is already in a recession, characterized by a freight rate recession due to lower prices from reduced volumes.
• ⚠️ Some industry players are warning of additional trucking bankruptcies stemming from depressed prices and volumes.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence

• 🤖 All survey respondents plan to incorporate more AI into their business to enhance inventory analysis and speed up decision-making.
• ❓ The impact of AI on jobs was nearly evenly split among respondents, with no clear consensus on whether it would eliminate jobs.