Bold Predictions for 2026 Manufacturing

The future of supply chain is accelerating, and on today's episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens are unpacking the global trends, disruptions, and economic shifts shaping what’s next for leaders everywhere. From declining imports to AI’s growing pains, this episode cuts through the noise to bring clarity to fast-moving industry headlines. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP!

Scott and Allison dive into the biggest stories impacting supply chains today — and the ripple effects businesses need to prepare for.

Together, they discuss:

📉 Why U.S. imports from China are falling sharply across electronics, furniture, toys, and more — and how tariffs and cooling consumer demand are reshaping sourcing strategies

🤖 The retail AI reality check: Why 95% of organizations see little ROI from AI investments, and how brittle workflows and lack of contextual intelligence are slowing progress

🔮 Top supply chain trends for 2026, including workforce and talent shortages, AI-driven transformation, and mounting geopolitical challenges

🛒 Thanksgiving meal costs drop 5%, but some items — like sweet potatoes and veggie trays — are bucking the trend with noticeable price increases

🌏 What all these signals mean for manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, and consumers heading into 2025–2026

Listen in as Scott and Allison break down the data, share industry insights, and invite you to join the conversation on the challenges and opportunities shaping tomorrow’s supply chains.

Additional Links & Resources:

• With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-23Nov2025 
• OMP: https://omp.com/
• LinkedIn Post on Needless Meetings: https://bit.ly/NeedlessMeetings 
• ‘This is a structural goods recession’: U.S. freight market is starting to roll over as Chinese trade plummets: https://cnb.cx/48f84oL
• Retail Supply Chains Need AI More Than Ever, But It’s Not Meeting Expectations: https://bit.ly/AI-RetailSC
• OMP eBook: Making AI Work for You: From Explainable to Agentic: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0pgvWp0
• MHI Announces Top Supply Chain Trends of 2026: https://bit.ly/SC-Trends-2026
• What Experts Will Watch as the Pentagon Implements Acquisition Reform: https://bit.ly/Pentagon-Sourcing-Reform
• Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Analysis: Moderate Decline: https://bit.ly/Turkey-Dinner-Prices
• Dave Krache Foundation: https://davekrache.com/ 
• Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisongiddens/
• Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
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This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Allison Giddens and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-us-imports-china-plummeting-what-means-2026-1512