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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK REPORTS

This comprehensive MDM 1Q25 Forecast is a guide to the industrial economy for wholesale distribution executives, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place.
Our 2024 EOR is a comprehensive economic reference guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution industry and its many different verticals. It is comprised of 20 different subreports.

Premium Monthly

Now live, the issue’s content spans your role as a source of tariff clarity; the business case for women-specific PPE; why QXO relentlessly pursued Beacon; what distributors pay their fleet staff; our latest MDM Forecast; a fasteners market profile; and more.

Market Insight Reports

MDM’s 1Q25 MarketPulse Report consists of the quarterly results, analysis and commentary from the Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey that explored revenue performance, pricing and expectations for the current quarter and rest-of-year.
See our new breakdown of M&A activity by product category, the latest EBITDA trading multiples for 30 top industrial distributors, and our detailed recap of dealmaking activity during January-March, which was notably subdued compared to previous quarters.

Case Studies

The metalworking and MRO supplies distributor has successfully transitioned from a catalog-driven product house that relied on spot-buys to its role today as a digitally-driven, “Mission Critical” company. Here’s how.
Watsco has achieved a marketing-leading position in HVACR distribution through a combination of deep supplier partnerships, a buy-and-build philosophy and a technology-first mindset. We examine the company’s recent evolution and where it’s going.
Products on inventory shelves storage
The latest MDM Forecast had a modest continuation in downward revision in April overall, with growth still expected but at a slower pace than previously projected. As always, the projection varied throught the 19 different industry verticals tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau. Get your sector-specific outlook here.
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Fastenal’s latest sports-oriented endeavor joins several other pro teams and leagues that the distributor supports. The company gave us the details on why it made sense and what’s involved.

1Q 2025 Economic Webcast 800x400

Exclusive to Premium and NAW members, this webcast will sort out the industrial economic picture to guide you through what matters most, including the role that tariffs will play.

Hand holding drawing virtual lightbulb with brain on bokeh background for creative and smart thinking idea concep

Achieving real needle-moving innovation in wholesale distribution often involves numerous obstacles. Here are four of the most common and how to overcome them.

MSC Industrial

Over 60% of MSC Industrial Supply’s sales are eCommerce-based, making it one of the leading web-driven distributors in North America. The final piece of this three-part series explores the progression of that digital business to meet changing market and customer demands.

Credit: Mike Hockett/MDM

How did 2024 stack up against other recent years? We dive into the numbers to analyze how it graded by historical context alongside GDP performance.

wholesale trade June 2021

Our overall 2025 industry revenue forecast narrowed from January, dragged down by a downshift for oil & gas. Nevertheless, strong growth appears in store for most verticals. See your sector-specific outlook here.

After a challenging 2024, the metalworking and MRO supplies distributor continues to work through a critical web pricing realignment. Part 1 of this MDM Case Study article series examines what caused the issue and how MSC is progressing through this initiative that’s tied to nearly two-thirds of its revenue stream.

2Q24 Baird-MDM Distribution Survey - Competition (via Canva)

More than half of respondents in the 2Q24 Baird-MDM Distribution Survey indicated they characterized 2Q24 as slightly or much more competitive than a year earlier.

Trade in goods and production. Profit from trading. Import and export. Warehousing logistics. Delivering. Money bag on background of modern distribution warehouse or shipping warehouse. Blurred

Distributors won’t be able to pass along price increases in 2024 at nearly the rate of 2021-2023. So, the 4Q23 Baird-MDM Survey asked distributors how they see supplier pricing impacting gross margin.

Frustrated Businessman During A Business Meeting In Office

The age-old conflict of sales vs. revenue operations doesn’t have to be a combative relationship. Mike Hockett distills takeaways from an ISA23 session on ways to make this dynamic more collaborative.

Mind map diagram for idea research, plan or thinking for solution to solve problem, visualization or prioritize, decision making concept, business people writing mind map diagram for easy understand.

In this second of a two-part series by Redwood Advisors, learn about the final steps to optimizing an expansive sales force: mapping your accounts to the right sales channel and assigning them the right rep.

Pricing, Sales, Profitability Top Priorities for Data Analytics

The quarterly Baird-MDM industrial distribution survey gauged distributors’ confidence heading into 2023. Here’s what they had to say about pricing expectations.

MSC sign

Part 2 of this series covers how the metalworking and MRO supplies distributor’s Mission Critical initiative is bearing fruit by transforming the company into a more digitally capable and agile organization.

QXO Beacon

Along with its time-sensitive proposal, the building materials distribution platform went into great detail giving a rundown of talks with Beacon since they started this past summer.

Sanctions Political Trade War

We analyze the results of our early January survey that polled 350 distributors and manufacturers about their expectations of how tariffs could impact both margins and demand. Along with data, it produced plenty of commentary.

Beacon asdf

New investment bank analyst commentary suggests QXO will have to increase its current bid for Beacon to fend off alternative suitors, but others say additional offers are unlikely.

Source: Gajus via Canva

We surveyed nearly 130 family-owned distributors this past Summer to learn about their priorities and challenges. Here, we analyze the results of our polling about succession planning.

Contemporary art collage. Hands holding puzzle pieces and trying to connect it against blue background. Concept of business, acquisition, retention, merger, partnership, office,

We break down 2024’s dealmaking activity by volume vs. 2023, what the most impactful transactions were, which distributors were frequent headliners and what to expect in 2025.

AI Artificial Intelligence chipset on circuit board in futuristic concept suitable for future technology artwork, Web Banner Abstract background, Vector illustration

Through a discussion with the CIO of each company, we get into the weeds of the what, why and how behind the electrical and fastener distributors’ AI journey and the decisions that led to success with the technology.

Shot of people at work in a large warehouse full of boxes

One-size-fits-all technology has never sat well in distribution. Here, we share how a flooring distributor prioritized industry specificity when selecting a cloud ERP platform.

Products on inventory shelves storage
The latest MDM Forecast had a modest continuation in downward revision in April overall, with growth still expected but at a slower pace than previously projected. As always, the projection varied throught the 19 different industry verticals tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau. Get your sector-specific outlook here.
Night Map of USA with City Lights Illumination. 3D render

Capital investments in electric infrastructure, including upgrades and renewable energy integration, fueled a double-digit rise in utilities’ electricity spending from 2003 to 2023. We break down the figures here.

Logistics Liaison January Semiconductors (1)

Backed by U.S. investment in semiconductor fabrication, billions are being injected into large-scale construction projects. Could building materials and MRO distributors benefit? Our Logistics Liaison explores.

The path is interrupted by uncertainty. Uncertainty, threat and danger. Resolve the problem before continuing your journey. Bring a gap.

There’s no better time to find out what keeps distribution executives up at night than at the start of the year. We analyze more than 250 write-in responses to our early January survey question asking about their top concerns.

Investment Banking Directory

Work with a banking partner that knows your business. Get detailed information on investment banks with expertise in the wholesale distribution industry.

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