Did You Catch This?
“Did You Catch This?” is a look at recent stories and news items that caught our attention and that we think are worth sharing.
Here are this month’s:
Tariffcoaster….of love?
2025 has been the year of the never-ending tariff update, a gloomy stew of threats, price increases, temporary pauses, and global vexation.
In the spirit of summer, I’ve decided to try a fresh take on the gloomy stew, and view the latest tariff news as a rollercoaster full of highs and lows, chills and thrills, and hopefully, in the end, limited vomiting. So here goes:
High: Proposed legislation introduced this week by Josh Hawley, the fist-pumping Senator from Missouri, would use tariff revenue to establish a refundable tax credit that would send roughly $600 to eligible citizens. These rebates would help offset the rising costs….created by tariffs. So…..yay?
Low: According to research by the Tax Foundation, the Trump tariffs will affect nearly 75%, or $164 billion, of US food imports, and raise the cost of food for Americans.
Thrill: CNBC reported earlier this month that, according to Treasury Department officials, the US posted a surplus of over $27 billion in June as a result of increased tariff collections.
Chill: More analysis from the Tax Foundation estimates Trump’s tariffs would decrease market income by 1.6% in 2026, resulting in an average tax increase per U.S. household of $1,296 in 2025 and $1,683 in 2026.
Let’s get off the tariffcoaster, I’m dizzy.
Loan Wolf
The pause on interest-free student loans will expire August 1st for nearly 7.7 million people currently enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, enacted in 2023 to make student loan borrowing more affordable.
The end of the interest-free forbearance period means borrowers’ debts will increase if their loan payments are not large enough to cover the accruing interest.
If that applies to you, your loved ones, or anyone you know, make sure to figure out a new payment plan before that interest begins accumulating!
Oh Hi Hyundai
Let’s end on a nice note. According to Automotive Dive, Hyundai Motor Group reported Q2 revenue of $35.2 billion, the highest quarterly revenue in company history, breaking the previous high set in Q1 of this year.
While other, less positive figures also emerged from the earnings statement, overall, it’s positive news for an industry facing supply chain disruptions caused by tariffs on steel and raw materials.
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The Time Machine: June 4th, 1982
There are certain questions that fan the flames of curiosity in regular folk and philosophers alike.
Is there life after death? Are there other living beings in the universe? What the heck is in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction?
One more? When was “supply chain management” coined, and by whom? This one is a real doozy, so we set out to answer it! (Note: I’m being cheeky, but aren’t you at least somewhat curious to find out?)
The answers appear to be the year 1982 and a man named Keith Oliver.
During an interview with The Financial Times, Mr. Oliver, a British logistician and methods analyst, used the term “supply chain management” when discussing a concept he developed while working on a project for Phillips Electronics, a Dutch manufacturer.
Although this is an oversimplification that omits many key contributors, there’s no doubt that “supply chain management” quickly developed into a ubiquitous business concept and term. What’s more, it’s probably a Top 5 phrase used in presentations at symposiums, conferences, and webinars the world over. The ultimate legacy! Thank you Mr. Oliver.
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