The Year in Distribution: 2008 - Modern Distribution Management

The Year in Distribution: 2008

The economy has officially shifted into lower gear after a turbulent ride in the second half of 2008. This article is an overview of trends and events in the past year in the wholesale distribution sector.
At the end of 2007, MDM published an article titled, Preparing for Uncertainty in 2008.”At the time, the economy was starting to show signs of weakening. Certain sectors -automotive and housing — had already taken a dive. And deal-making had started to ease.
But we could not have guessed the enormity of change that would take place this year -particularly in the second half. Financial markets collapsed and previously stalwart institutions went under.
 
Residential construction plummeted further. In November, unemployment rose to 6.7%; half a million jobs …

The economy has officially shifted into lower gear after a turbulent ride in the second half of 2008. This article is an overview of trends and events in the past year in the wholesale distribution sector.
At the end of 2007, MDM published an article titled, Preparing for Uncertainty in 2008.”At the time, the economy was starting to show signs of weakening. Certain sectors -automotive and housing — had already taken a dive. And deal-making had started to ease.
But we could not have guessed the enormity of change that would take place this year -particularly in the second half. Financial markets collapsed and previously stalwart institutions went under.
 
Residential construction plummeted further. In November, unemployment rose to 6.7%; half a million jobs …

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