In this very special episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin and Tom welcome renowned economist Dr. Shawn DuBravac, a former Chief Economist for the Consumer Technology Association and founder of Avrio Institute.

Sean brings a wealth of knowledge on global markets, economic forecasting, and technology trends that impact wholesale distribution, manufacturing, and financial decision-making. Together, they break down inflation, consumer confidence, trade policies, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and nearshoring trends, offering strategic insights for business leaders navigating uncertain times.

If you're a wholesaler, distributor, manufacturer, or industry executive, this episode delivers expert-level economic perspectives and actionable business strategies to help you prepare for shifts in global trade, tariffs, and economic headwinds.

Key Topics covered in this episode:

✅ Consumer Confidence Is Dropping—But Why?

✅ Tariffs, Trade, and Policy Uncertainty Are Impacting Business Decisions

✅ Nearshoring & Onshoring Are on the Rise

✅ AI & Technology Are Driving Efficiency in Distribution

✅ The Next 12 Months Are Critical for Economic Strategy

Chapters & Timestamps

📌 [00:00] Welcome & Guest Introduction – Kevin and Tom introduce Sean, an economist and keynote speaker with expertise in global markets and trade policy.

📌 [07:10] Consumer Confidence Is Plummeting—What’s Behind the Drop? – Understanding why consumer sentiment is declining and what businesses can expect.

📌 [15:25] Inflation, Pricing Trends & The Role of Government Policy – How trade policies, interest rates, and inflation concerns are shaping distribution.

📌 [22:50] Tariffs & Global Trade: What’s Changing? – Analyzing the impact of 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and potential trade wars with Europe.

📌 [32:15] Nearshoring & Onshoring: A Growing Trend in Manufacturing – Why US manufacturers are shifting production to Mexico and Latin America.

📌 [40:45] Rare Earth Minerals & The US-China Trade Battle – How the global race for critical minerals is reshaping geopolitics and supply chains.

📌 [50:10] The Impact of Automation & AI in Distribution – Exploring AI-driven sales strategies, inventory management, and predictive analytics.

📌 [1:02:30] Port Strikes, Supply Chain Disruptions & The Future of Logistics – How automation in shipping and warehousing is affecting distribution.

📌 [1:15:05] Economic Forecast for 2025 & How Businesses Can Prepare – Sean shares his predictions for the next 12 months and how companies can stay ahead.

📌 [1:28:20] Closing Thoughts & Where to Connect with Sean – Final takeaways and how to follow Sean for more economic insights.

Connect with Dr. Shawn DuBravac at The Avrio Institute: 

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