Copper prices approach $4/lb as supplies tighten
Spot copper prices remain in the $3.70-$4.00 range as global stockpiles have dropped to the lowest level in six months, spurring speculation supply will trail demand for the year. Read more>>
Fed rate cuts boost oil futures prices
Crude oil prices headed higher to $109 for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange this week after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three-quarters of a percentage point and a rally on Wall Street raised energy investors' hopes for further price hikes. Read more>>
Spansion to outsource less
Spansion Inc., a leading supplier of flash memory, says it will reduce the amount of flash products it outsources to foundries. Read more>>
Memory slows semiconductor industry growth
The final numbers are in and the global semiconductor market grew only 3.3% to $268.9 billion in 2007, according to iSuppli’s final 2007 chip market share data. Read more>>
Raw materials costs are boosting overall inflation
Despite the U.S. economic slowdown, the threat of rampant inflation among building materials remains, says Ken Simonson, chief economist for The Associated General Contractors of America. Read more>>
Forecast dims for auto sales
J.D. Power & Associates cut its forecast for new vehicle sales in the U.S. by 4.8% to 14.95 million, a level last seen in 1994. Read more>>
ArcelorMittal USA hikes steel plate by $100/ton
H. Shelby Pixley, CEO of ArcelorMittal USA Plate, alerted customers this week of plans to boost the price of all carbon steel plate by $100/ton and alloy steel plate by $140/ton in May. Read more>>
Diesel price surge drives new thinking
With diesel prices continuing on an upward surge, truckers and industries that rely heavily on trucking and freight are re-thinking the way they operate. Read more>>
Looking for MRO All-Stars
Purchasing is asking readers to nominate purchasing professionals who demonstrate excellence at sourcing MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) goods and services. From the nominations, the editors will select leaders of MRO buying—the 2008 All-Star MRO Buy team— who are successful managers of supplier relationships and who use innovative programs to manage costs or improve plant productivity. Please send nominations—names of MRO purchasers deserving this recognition—to savery@reedbusiness.com. Purchasing will announce the team in a summer issue.
BLACK BELT NEGOTIATORS >> True stories of business collaboration
Purchasing’s smartest negotiators move from conflict to collaboration fast. Match your wits against these pros. Guess their strategy. Then, read what they really did.
Are you a black belt negotiator? Tell us about one of your negotiation successes, and we’ll print it so others can learn from your experience. Send it to pteague@reedbusiness.com
Visit Purchasing's HELP WANTED BULLETIN today for more details and to see more purchasing and supply chain job postings! If you would like to post a job on Purchasing.com's Help Wanted Bulletin,
please contact Lowell Malles, Online Sales Directorat Purchasing via email at lowell.malles@
reedbusiness.com or via phone at (781) 734-8236 or via Cell phone at (617) 281-2907.
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