Cooling Inflation and Improving Supply Chains:

Lessons from the Chaos

The latest inflation report from the Fed shows that inflation continues to cool. This year through May, overall U.S. consumer prices rose 4%, not including the volatile markets of food and energy (core CPI was 5.33%). This is the slowest rate of growth in more than two years. Still, it is twice the rate of what was considered normal growth before the pandemic. Steel prices, which matter acutely to companies in fastener industry and our supply chains, remain well above pre-pandemic levels.

But the good news is that inflation is trending in the right direction. And most economists predict that it will continue to moderate. Similar to cooling inflation, disruptions to supply chains, while still persistent in many sectors, are beginning, and should continue, to lessen. Given the cause-and-effect relationship between supply chain disruption and inflation, it makes sense that healthier supply chain would go hand-in-hand with inflation reduction.

Given these positive developments, it may be tempting to settle into a more complacent, less proactive mentality in terms of spending and supply chain management. While the Fed has not ruled out interest rate hikes and inflation is still a concern, we are looking toward a (hopefully) more stabilized economy. Here are some key lessons that we should take with us from this period of extreme disruption:

Quality Matters

To ensure a robust and healthy supply chain, you must have quality product. Sometimes, this means paying more money, but the return that you will get is worth it. The costs of poor quality are about more than just dollars; poor quality creates a timing disruption as well. It is important to have quality suppliers with meticulous control plans and fair labor practices, quality customers who are financially secure and share your values, and quality team members who care about the company and are engaged in the culture.

Diversity is Paramount

It goes without saying that companies should not rely on a single source for any product they bring in. Diversity also matters in terms of customer base. A company serving many industries is more likely to survive a range of economic downturns because most economic slumps are industry-specific.

Invest in your People

Inflation has caused wages to go up as well. The average salary bump is now about 5%, as opposed to 2 or 3% previously. For employers, this may feel like just another rising expense, but paying your people fair wages that meet the demands of the time is important. A well-compensated, well-appreciated worker is more likely to be an engaged and loyal worker.

Certainly, more lessons can be added to this list, but these are three that have mattered to Fastco, our supply chain, and our community. What lessons has your company learned post-pandemic?