In contrast to the consumer-driven auto business, industries that involve only business-to-business transactions in the supply chain will be relatively unaffected by the Sino-Japan political strains, Francis Bassolino, managing director for Alaris, told the Shanghai FCC lunch.

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And while that is good for the consumer, it tends to result in margin pressure across the supply chain as the vendor needs to trim costs in order to maintain their margins.

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The government pitched the further opening of retail as a way to improve India's supply chain, increase consumer choice, and help farmers.

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That, too, would lead to higher prices for almost every supply chain component and consumer good requiring road transportation, and set in motion a vicious cycle of economic headwinds.

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Could Ralph Lauren -- the brand atop the long, integrated supply chain that takes apparel ideas from conception all the way to the consumer -- have forgone use of the Chinese factories that do most of the brand's cutting and sewing operations and, instead, contracted with U.S. factories for the Olympic uniform project?

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Reporting compliance requirements also show up in the supply chain in ways that are not related to regulations but are driven by consumer preferences for green and sustainable products.

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Farmers have long called for the food supply chain, which can involve many traders and processors between farm gate and consumer plate, to be overhauled and simplified.

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In collaboration with the NPD Group, its parent company, DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels.

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Temporary factors, including the damping effect of higher food and energy prices on consumer purchasing power and spending as well as supply chain disruptions associated with the tragic events in Japan, appear to account for only some of the recent weakness in economic activity.

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