The global economy has moved from uncertainty to complexity. For distribution leaders, that shift changes everything.

In this in-depth report, Distribution Strategy Group translates macroeconomic and geopolitical developments into practical guidance for wholesale distribution executives. Based on analysis presented by Alex Chausovsky of 3DM Consulting, the report examines the forces shaping 2026 planning, including resilient U.S. GDP growth, accelerating industrial production, structural U.S.–China decoupling, permanent tariff policy shifts, evolving global trade alignments, and a labor market that has fundamentally reset.

Key insights include:

• Why tariffs are now a long-term operating reality and how Section 232 investigations will affect distribution-critical product categories
• Why current CPI readings understate inflation risk and what that means for pricing, margins, and customer profitability
• How the K-shaped economy is creating clear sector winners and losers, and how distributors can reposition accordingly
• What the closing labor gap means for hiring, wage pressure, and talent strategy
• Why AI adoption and data-driven scenario planning are now competitive imperatives

The report concludes with six strategic priorities for distribution leaders who want to protect margins, capture market share, and build resilience in a volatile geopolitical and economic environment.

This is essential reading for executives developing 2026 plans and seeking to move from reactive decision-making to disciplined, data-driven execution.

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