Consumer confidence in the overall economy increased in October to the highest level since 2008, according to the October Index from the Consumer Electronics Association. Consumer confidence in technology fell slightly from the Index released in September.

To get products to customers in emerging markets, global manufacturers need strategies for navigating both the traditional and the modern retail landscapes.

When electric-car company Tesla Motors Inc. started selling its flagship Model S luxury hatchback earlier this year, it eschewed the traditional dealership network to open its own stores. That's not sitting well with U.S. auto dealers, who have controlled new-vehicle sales for nearly a century. Some are suing the new entrant.

UPS has expanded its distribution network for healthcare manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region.

FedEx expects to have its busiest day in history on Monday, Dec. 10, when it moves a projected 19 million shipments through its global ground, express and freight networks. The 10-percent, year-over-year increase will once again be driven by e-commerce feeding the FedEx Ground and FedEx SmartPost networks.

Every business needs to "go digital." Data about customers, competitors, suppliers and employees are exploding. Ninety percent of all data were created in the past two years. By 2016, there will be 3 billion internet users globally, and the internet economy will reach $4.2tr in the G-20 nations. No company or country can afford to ignore this phenomenon.

Merging of channels is a hot topic, catapulted by the suddenness of mobile popularity. But beyond the buzz, companies need to provide the right mix of services, messages and pricing. So often that isn't the case.

Is ignorance bliss when it comes to sourcing? A recent poll of buyers in the retail, grocery and restaurant chain industries found that 75 percent of those not using e-sourcing methods are confident that they're getting the best value from their suppliers. But they're wrong, according to a report from Intesource. A suppliers' true rock-bottom price is almost always far lower than a buyer suspects. And it's even more likely another qualified source may be hungrier for new business. Buyers just need to know how to shift the tables.

APL Logistics has signed an agreement to acquire all of the shares in APLL-Zhiqin Group, a Chinese joint venture partnership that has also included Legend Holdings Co., Ltd. and Beijing Willway Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Many large U.S. companies continue to try and "game the system" at year's end, artificially improving their balance sheets by manipulating receivables, payables and inventory, according to a study from REL, a division of The Hackett Group. Their efforts, which can range from deep discounting and extended payment terms on sales to simply "losing" supplier bills, do have a positive impact in Q4, the study found. But these companies pay a harsh price in Q1, when working capital performance bounces back to even worse levels than before.