People
While overall supply chain congestion may be easing, proactive inventory management remains a primary focus for businesses as consumer demand weakens
As supply chain congestion has gradually eased, inventory levels across consumer products sectors have risen, in some cases rather dramatically. At the same time, inventory turns are down across all sectors save Health & Beauty, the PMI manufacturing index has fallen below 50 (indicating contraction), and the price of oil remains over 20% higher than a year ago. While transportation cost pressures have eased considerably, consumer confidence and levels of discretionary spend will most likely contract as we enter 2023 – meaning sustained high inventory levels far beyond the holidays will fast become a cause for concern.
On a monthly basis, AlixPartners charts sales, sentiment and supply chains in consumer-facing businesses. Learn more about the Consumer Products Corner newsletter and read previous articles, here.
