Topic
pricing
Logistics Tabi Pricing Pressure Index Rises 7 Points, Signaling Broker Power Erosion
Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index rose 7 points to 36 over the past month, signaling a measurable softening in spot freight conditions while brokers and carriers still hold the upper hand, according to FreightWaves. The index draws on more than 1.5 million spot loads monthly. Shippers typically feel the market shift three to four months after brokers.
Manufacturing Used Truck Supply Falls Below COVID Floor, Driving Strong Pricing and Carrier Gains
Used sleeper truck inventory has fallen below its COVID-era floor, pushing prices sharply higher and enabling carriers to sell aging equipment at a gain, according to Daimler Trucks Remarketing President Chris Backeberg. Microprocessor shortages from 2021-2023 and carriers holding trucks longer tightened supply, while day cab demand accelerates with port and intermodal activity. Backeberg sees tight supply continuing for 12 to 18 months.
Commodities India offers city gas distributors 200 SCM cheaper domestic gas for every new PNG connection
India will offer city gas distributors 200 SCM of lower-priced domestic natural gas for every new billed household PNG connection, effective September 1. The incentive aims to activate unused connections and expand networks, potentially cutting the payback period for distributor capital expenditure to about three years from 10 years.
Business Colgate-Palmolive India Signals More Price Hikes as Inflation Persists, CEO Says
Colgate-Palmolive India signalled further price hikes in coming quarters as commodity inflation from the West Asia war persists, according to Business Today. CEO & MD Prabha Narasimhan said the company has ring-fenced vulnerable consumers through grammage additions in small packs. The firm is also doubling down on premiumisation and has partnered with Bombay Shaving Company for Palmolive's D2C and e-commerce channels.
Business Colgate Flags Inflation Risk, May Hike Prices, CEO Says at Investor Day
Colgate-Palmolive may raise prices as inflation remains a concern, CEO Prabha Narasimhan said at the annual investor day call. The premium business is growing six times the market, while Rs 10 and Rs 20 value packs remain intact for budget consumers.
Logistics Spot Rates Split as Tender Rejections Hold Above 13%
Truckload tender rejections are holding at 13.5%, more than double the balanced-market range, while demand erodes faster than seasonal norms. Long-haul truckload volumes rose just 2% year over year against an 8% gain for domestic intermodal, and Midwest refrigerated rates are spiking early in protein and grain corridors. Zach Strickland's SONAR update details a three-way spot rate split across flatbed, reefer and dry van.
Logistics New Parcel Surcharge Helps USPS Reach $20B in Revenue, Steiner Says
The U.S. Postal Service reported fiscal third-quarter operating revenue of $19.9 billion, lifted by an April parcel surcharge and higher stamp prices, according to FreightWaves. The surcharge expires Jan. 17, while USPS has filed for a January rate increase under a new methodology. Postmaster General David Steiner also criticized regulators for limiting price hikes, which he said cost the agency $700 million.
Technology Why Companies Struggle to Put a Price on AI Services
BBC News reports that Microsoft, Google and Anthropic have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in large language models, yet pricing AI services remains difficult because token consumption is unpredictable. Goldman Sachs forecasts token usage will rise 24 times by 2030, while companies like Uber and Microsoft have already blown through coding token budgets.
Logistics Schneider National Pushes Price as Truckload Market Imbalance Drives Rate Recovery
Schneider National beat second-quarter expectations, raised its full-year outlook, and reported double-digit contract rate increases in a capacity-constrained truckload market. The company described the rate recovery as early-stage, with spot market activity in June resembling the prior cycle peak of March 2021.
Commodities Report: Import parity pricing raises raw material costs for India's downstream aluminium MSMEs
A new report by Policy Consensus Centre finds import parity pricing is raising raw material costs for India's downstream aluminium sector, squeezing MSME margins. India is the world's second-largest primary aluminium producer but has nearly 3,500 downstream units facing tariff burdens and FTA competition.
Logistics G2 Ocean CEO Arthur English Urges Shipping to Price Risk as One Interconnected System at Splash Singapore
Arthur English, CEO of G2 Ocean, urges the shipping industry to move beyond siloed risk management and instead treat geopolitical, operational, financial, and human factors as an interconnected system. Speaking ahead of September's Splash Singapore conference, he calls for more transparent allocation and pricing of risk, especially in the fragmented dry bulk sector.
Commodities TNAU Forecasts Small Onion Prices at ₹30-35/kg for Upcoming Harvest Season
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University's DEMIC has forecast farm-gate prices of ₹30-35 per kg for good-quality small onions during the upcoming harvest season. The forecast is based on 15 years of price data from the Dindigul market and a market survey. Production details, key growing districts, and robust export demand are also highlighted.
Technology How Google’s New Gemini Rates Work and How to Track Your Usage
Google has overhauled how Gemini AI usage is measured, shifting from request counts to the computing power required. This change affects all tiers—Free, Plus, Pro, and Ultra—and can lead to unpredictable limits. Users can track their usage through new tools in the app.
Business Pricing, Not Volume, Drives India Inc in Q1; Crisil Sees 11-11.5% Revenue Growth Despite Supply Disruptions
India Inc's Q1 FY27 corporate revenue is estimated to grow 11-11.5% according to Crisil, driven by pricing rather than volume, a reversal from the past two years. Resilient domestic demand allowed companies to pass on higher input costs, while supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict impacted exporters and construction. Operating profit margins are expected to contract 75-100 bps.
Logistics TL and LTL Rates Set to Hit New Highs in Q3 as Capacity Tightens and Fuel Costs Surge
Truckload and less-than-truckload rate indexes reached new highs in the second quarter, driven by capacity constraints and surging diesel prices. The Q3 outlook from AFS Logistics and TD Cowen points to continued rate increases, with TL rates expected to rise 17.7% above baseline and LTL rates climbing further. Small carriers are sidelined, while large public carriers push through early general rate increases.
Commodities India Reaches 20% Ethanol Blending Milestone as Govt Issues FAQs on E20 Fuel Concerns
India has reached 20% ethanol blending in petrol as of April 2025, five years ahead of target. The government released FAQs to address public concerns about fuel economy, performance, and vehicle damage, detailing the long history and supply build-up behind the policy.
Technology Anthropic to Charge Usage-Based Fees for Claude Fable 5, Breaking Subscription Model
Anthropic is introducing usage-based billing for Claude Fable 5, the consumer version of its Mythos 5 AI model. Starting July 12, subscribers to the $20, $100, and $200 monthly plans will pay additional fees per token, matching API rates. The move marks a shift from flat subscriptions and reflects data center capacity constraints.
Commodities Fuel Prices Soar Like a Rocket, Fall Like a Feather: Breakthrough Economist Explains
The 'rocket and feather' phenomenon describes how fuel prices surge quickly but decline gradually. Breakthrough Chief Economist Matthew Muenster explains the operational and market dynamics behind this, including inventory strategies and competitor pricing. The article also highlights upcoming supply chain events.
Commodities India Sets Rice at Rs 2,320/quintal for Ethanol, Wheat at Rs 2,585-2,600 for Millers Under OMSS 2026-27
The Indian government has released the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) policy for 2026-27, setting rice at Rs 2,320/quintal for ethanol distilleries and wheat at Rs 2,585-2,600/quintal for millers. The policy, effective until June 30, 2027, includes tiered pricing for various buyers and introduces a separate category for rice with 10% broken grain content. Allocation to state governments is fixed at 48 lakh tonnes, while no specific quantity is earmarked for other buyers amid concerns over a potential super El Nino impacting foodgrain production.
Commodities Retail diesel falls for eighth week while crack spreads surge to near-record levels
Retail diesel prices fell for the eighth consecutive week to $4.668/gal, down 97.2 cents from the May 4 peak, according to DOE/EIA data. Meanwhile, the 3:2:1 crack spread surged to near-record levels above $50/bbl, signaling a product shortage that analysts say may be temporary as crude supply from the Strait of Hormuz flows freely.
Commodities Beyond Oil Tanks: Strategic Pricing Reserves, the New Mantra for India’s Energy Security
India’s heavy reliance on Gulf oil imports (48% of daily 5 million barrels) left it vulnerable during the Iran war, with crude prices surging from $70 to $110 per barrel. The country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves were only 64% filled, providing just 74 days total cover. The additional import bill threatened to match the defence budget, highlighting the need for strategic pricing reserves alongside physical storage.
Technology Amazon and Walmart Battle for Lowest Price on Apple AirPods Pro 3, Dropping to $169
Walmart has dropped the Apple AirPods Pro 3 to $169.99, a record low, while Amazon lists them at $179. The price war highlights competitive dynamics in e-commerce ahead of Amazon Prime Day on June 23.
LLM-Powered Virtual Population Model Simulates Demand for Smarter Pricing Decisions
Researchers developed an LLM-powered virtual population model that simulates demand for pricing decisions by combining customer personas with product descriptions and images. The model provides not just point forecasts but full predictive demand distributions, enabling risk-aware pricing strategies. Tested on H&M fashion data, it outperformed other models in predictive accuracy.
Agentomics Framework Introduces Shapley Value-Based Pricing for AI Agents in Human-AI Workflows
A new paper from arXiv introduces Agentomics, a workflow-based framework that applies coalition game theory and Shapley value to value, attribute, and price AI agents in human-AI teams. The framework models workflows as heterogeneous agent configurations, addressing complementarities and bottlenecks, and uses a security-operations case study to demonstrate productivity gains and reliability losses.
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Pro Price Hikes Reflect Component Cost Inflation for OEMs
Microsoft has launched updated Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 chips, but starting prices have jumped to $1,599 and $1,499 respectively — a $600 and $500 increase over initial prior-gen pricing. The price hikes are attributed to persistent component supply shortages inflating RAM and storage costs, a trend with implications for enterprise hardware procurement and OEM manufacturing strategies.
Commodities India's Fertilizer Prices Drop Amid Easing Supply Strain
India's latest fertilizer tender saw prices drop significantly, indicating an easing of global supply strains. National Fertilizers Ltd. received offers between $444.90 and $617 per tonne, a stark contrast to April's prices of $935 to $959 per tonne.
Finance RBI Proposes Transparent Bulk Deposit Pricing Framework
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed new rules to enhance transparency and flexibility in bulk deposit pricing. Banks will need to disclose interest rates upfront and consider withdrawal risks in pricing.
Commodities Maharashtra Onion Farmers Demand Higher Procurement Prices
Maharashtra onion farmers are demanding a minimum procurement price of Rs 3,000 per quintal, citing current rates as insufficient to cover costs. Despite relaxed procurement norms, farmers face financial distress due to low prices.
Commodities LPG Market Stable Amid OMC Losses on Cylinder Sales
Despite stable LPG supplies, Indian Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are incurring losses of nearly Rs 700 per cylinder. The government has increased domestic production and secured imports to maintain supply levels.
Logistics Record Growth in Transportation Pricing Index for May
The transportation pricing index recorded unprecedented growth in May, driven by capacity constraints and rising fuel costs. This surge affects freight rates and logistics operations globally.
Supply Chain Market-Linked Pricing: A New Era for Dairy Sustainability
The dairy industry is transitioning from cost-based to market-linked pricing to enhance sustainability and meet evolving consumer demands. This shift addresses structural challenges and aligns procurement with market expectations.
Trade India's Gold Market Reacts to Import Duty Hike
India's gold market is offering a ₹450/g discount following a significant import duty hike from 6% to 15% on May 13. The move aims to curb imports and manage forex outgo, impacting domestic pricing and demand.
Commodities Cotton Prices Decline as ICE Futures Ease, MNCs Discount Stocks
Cotton prices on ICE have eased, prompting resellers and MNCs to offer discounts. Despite weak demand, Indian cotton trades at a premium due to tight supply.