News
All the latest reporting and analysis from Distribution Strategy Group.
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NetPlus Distributors Raise 2026 Sales Outlook as Purchasing Growth Holds at 20%
84% expect 2026 sales to increase at least 3%, up 7 percentage points from the previous quarterly survey. 45% expect growth of at least 8%.
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U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs as Manufacturing Hiring Accelerates
For distributors, the August report points to continued demand across important industrial end markets without a corresponding surge in distributor hiring.
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Winsupply Adds Ohio Facility as 1.6 Million Square Foot Distribution Expansion Advances
The acquisition comes as Winsupply advances a broader distribution expansion announced in March. The company plans to add 1.6 million square feet of capacity over two years through projects in Ohio, Oklahoma and Georgia.
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Wholesale Trade Demand Strengthens as Costs and Inventories Rise
Wholesale trade was among the industries reporting growth in new orders, providing a direct indication that demand strengthened across the distribution sector during the month.
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Lowe’s Reshuffles Executive Team as It Pushes Pro, AI Growth
Lowe’s has been building out its Pro capabilities with expanded product access, digital quoting and purchasing tools, job-lot quantities, and direct-to-jobsite delivery.
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AI, Reshoring Fuel New Wave of U.S. Industrial Demand
Morgan Stanley Real Assets said the U.S. industrial market appears to be moving from a cyclical recovery toward another growth cycle, with demand accelerating while development remains constrained.
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U.S. Manufacturing Growth Slows as Costs and Supply Pressures Persist
For distributors, the August report points to continued industrial demand but a less straightforward growth environment than the headline PMI suggests.
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BlueLinx Adds Trex Decking and Railing Across 11 Distribution Centers
The agreement expands BlueLinx’s specialty products portfolio as the building products distributor looks to increase its exposure to higher-value product categories.
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HVACR Distributor Sales Rise 6.7% in July, Best Gain of 2026
The combination of stronger sales and stable customer payment patterns provides some positive signals for distributors entering the second half of the year.
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Hillman Completes $315 Million Kanebridge Acquisition, Expands into Industrial Distribution
Cincinnati-based Hillman has closed the previously announced acquisition of Kanebridge, a master distributor of commercial and military-grade fasteners.