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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK REPORTS
This comprehensive NAW 3Q26 Forecast is a guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution economy, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place along with our exclusive sector-specific forecasts for 19 different product categories. Its economic indicator data is updated through July 17.
This comprehensive MDM 2Q26 Forecast is a guide to the U.S. wholesale distribution economy, providing a historical, current and future snapshot of numerous key economic indicators in one convenient place along with our exclusive sector-specific forecasts for 19 different product categories. Its economic indicator data is updated through May 15.
Premium Monthly
Our new-look Intelligence Brief synthesizes all of our monthly Premium articles into a six-page report that distills key takeaways from that content — a perfect quick read for busy executives.
Our new-look Intelligence Brief synthesizes all of our monthly Premium articles into a six-page report that distills key takeaways from that content — a perfect quick read for busy executives.
Market Insight Reports
NAW’s 2Q26 MarketPulse Report consists of the quarterly results, analysis and commentary from the latest Baird-MDM Industrial Distribution Survey — conducted early July — that explored revenue performance, pricing and business expectations for the current quarter and rest-of-year. It includes a wealth of market-specific data and commentary from survey respondents.
See our updated monthly deal counts; a year-to-date breakdown of M&A activity by product category; the latest EBITDA trading multiples for 27 publicly traded industrial distributors; our latest M&A-led Premium article; and our detailed recap of dealmaking activity during April-June, which saw decelerated but still healthy activity.
Case Studies
This MDM Case Study examines how Stellar Industrial Supply built a differentiated growth model around documented customer savings, service-first selling and digital execution — turning measurable value creation into a durable platform for customer loyalty, expansion and operational excellence.
How has Singer Industrial grown into a 55-plus-company platform while preserving local leadership and culture? This MDM Case Study explores the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation distributor’s coordinated autonomy model, acquisition strategy and technology investments that are helping drive scale, efficiency and long-term growth.
Premium Articles
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This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
This category can only be viewed by members. To view this category, sign up by purchasing MDM Premium Subscription (monthly) or MDM Premium Subscription (annual).
Since 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, has conducted quarterly surveys of distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the industry. This quarter’s survey polled approximately 500 industry leaders to determine the latest indicators on revenue and pricing based on first-quarter 2019 results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for second-quarter and full-year 2019.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Not surprisingly, our quarterly Baird cover story confirms both leading indicators as well as what were hearing anecdotally from distribution executives. The first quarter showed signs of weakness compared to the previous quarter for most distributors, but still good growth overall, and a continued optimistic outlook.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three ways distributors can leverage the power of e-commerce.
Profit was up 7.8% during the quarter.
Sales over the first six months were up 1.9% over the same period in 2018.
According to data from the eighth-annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing, more than half of manufacturers who responded to the 2019 MDM-Real Results Marketing State of E-Commerce survey said they are using e-commerce to sell to end-users.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three key changes that are forcing distributors to reexamine sales coverage models
Earnings for the fourth quarter decreased 15.4%.
As President of Kelly & Hayes, a 73-year-old commercial and industrial electrical supply house, Christian Brockey knows firsthand the challenge of selling materials that have been sitting on the shelf for years. Often, we say that we have six months of good purchasing and 73 years of mistakes in our warehouse, Brockey says. Meeting that challenge led Brockey to found DistributorStock.com, an e-commerce marketplace to help independent distributors nationwide list shelf stock for sale online. MDM spoke with Brockey to hear his vision for the website, now in Beta, and how he sees it helping to move distributors stale inventory.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three ways non-retail vending programs can be a powerful tool to set distributors apart.
MDM's top news briefs from News briefs from March 11 - March 25, 2019.
As we wrap up the first quarter of 2019, MDM is hearing distributors confirm the recent warnings by business economists of a tapering economic cycle on the back side of a record 2018: leading indicators point in the same direction. No one can accurately predict if, when or how deep a market downturn might unfold.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Distributors and manufacturers who do not have e-commerce capabilities or have yet to get traction with existing e-commerce implementation still have an opportunity to get in the game. While the adoption rate is growing fast it increased by more than 50% for smaller companies ($10 million - $50 million) from 2018 to 2019 nearly 87% in this sector still do not have e-commerce. Even the majority (55%) of the largest companies (greater than $1 billion) still do not have e-commerce. These data, from the eighth-annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing, show there is still plenty of e-commerce runway left.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Analytics-driven operations can deliver staggering profit gains, but it takes a visionary leader who won’t accept a company’s current limited analytical expertise. In this article the author, who will outline these concepts at MDM’s Pricing & Profitability Summit, www.pnp.com, Apr. 15-17, argues that distributors can shift from a revenue-share mindset to a profit-share mindset by zeroing in on three key metrics: gross profit, cost-to-serve and net before compensation. It also outlines how the concepts of line-item profit analytics and quantum costing can create an effective analytics environment. This article is an excerpt from a chapter in A Distributor’s Guide to Analytics, a book published by MDM.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
The CFNAI Diffusion Index decreased to +0.12 during the month.
If this isnt the year to prioritize pricing and profitability improvement, Im not sure when would be better! Do something before you have to.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Theres a lot of talk about whether or not the U.S. is looking at an economic recession in the near future and the impact a market downturn could have on distributors profitability in the process. But the truth is, distributors should be examining their pricing strategy no matter how well or poorly the economy is performing, says Al Bates, principal at Distribution Performance Project. Whether its a good market or a bad market, youve got to get control of your pricing, he says.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
It is the highest individual recognition at Genuine Parts Company.
Industry leaders shared their recruiting and placement strategies at MDMs Sales GPS 2019.
Since 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co., in partnership with Modern Distribution Management, has conducted quarterly surveys of distributors and manufacturers to gauge business trends and the outlook for the industry. This quarter’s survey polled approximately 500 industry leaders to determine the latest indicators on revenue and pricing based on first-quarter 2019 results and distributor and manufacturer expectations for second-quarter and full-year 2019.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Not surprisingly, our quarterly Baird cover story confirms both leading indicators as well as what were hearing anecdotally from distribution executives. The first quarter showed signs of weakness compared to the previous quarter for most distributors, but still good growth overall, and a continued optimistic outlook.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three ways distributors can leverage the power of e-commerce.
Profit was up 7.8% during the quarter.
Sales over the first six months were up 1.9% over the same period in 2018.
According to data from the eighth-annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing, more than half of manufacturers who responded to the 2019 MDM-Real Results Marketing State of E-Commerce survey said they are using e-commerce to sell to end-users.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three key changes that are forcing distributors to reexamine sales coverage models
Earnings for the fourth quarter decreased 15.4%.
As President of Kelly & Hayes, a 73-year-old commercial and industrial electrical supply house, Christian Brockey knows firsthand the challenge of selling materials that have been sitting on the shelf for years. Often, we say that we have six months of good purchasing and 73 years of mistakes in our warehouse, Brockey says. Meeting that challenge led Brockey to found DistributorStock.com, an e-commerce marketplace to help independent distributors nationwide list shelf stock for sale online. MDM spoke with Brockey to hear his vision for the website, now in Beta, and how he sees it helping to move distributors stale inventory.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Three ways non-retail vending programs can be a powerful tool to set distributors apart.
MDM's top news briefs from News briefs from March 11 - March 25, 2019.
As we wrap up the first quarter of 2019, MDM is hearing distributors confirm the recent warnings by business economists of a tapering economic cycle on the back side of a record 2018: leading indicators point in the same direction. No one can accurately predict if, when or how deep a market downturn might unfold.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Distributors and manufacturers who do not have e-commerce capabilities or have yet to get traction with existing e-commerce implementation still have an opportunity to get in the game. While the adoption rate is growing fast it increased by more than 50% for smaller companies ($10 million - $50 million) from 2018 to 2019 nearly 87% in this sector still do not have e-commerce. Even the majority (55%) of the largest companies (greater than $1 billion) still do not have e-commerce. These data, from the eighth-annual MDM distribution e-commerce survey conducted with Real Results Marketing, show there is still plenty of e-commerce runway left.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Analytics-driven operations can deliver staggering profit gains, but it takes a visionary leader who won’t accept a company’s current limited analytical expertise. In this article the author, who will outline these concepts at MDM’s Pricing & Profitability Summit, www.pnp.com, Apr. 15-17, argues that distributors can shift from a revenue-share mindset to a profit-share mindset by zeroing in on three key metrics: gross profit, cost-to-serve and net before compensation. It also outlines how the concepts of line-item profit analytics and quantum costing can create an effective analytics environment. This article is an excerpt from a chapter in A Distributor’s Guide to Analytics, a book published by MDM.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
The CFNAI Diffusion Index decreased to +0.12 during the month.
If this isnt the year to prioritize pricing and profitability improvement, Im not sure when would be better! Do something before you have to.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
Theres a lot of talk about whether or not the U.S. is looking at an economic recession in the near future and the impact a market downturn could have on distributors profitability in the process. But the truth is, distributors should be examining their pricing strategy no matter how well or poorly the economy is performing, says Al Bates, principal at Distribution Performance Project. Whether its a good market or a bad market, youve got to get control of your pricing, he says.
Subscribers should log-in below to read this article.
It is the highest individual recognition at Genuine Parts Company.
Industry leaders shared their recruiting and placement strategies at MDMs Sales GPS 2019.
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