Watts the Cost?, Tariff Trouble Brews, & Banking on Bounce
Good morning!
☀️ Where supply chains stretch and market drama unfolds—daily.
Today’s edition is giving Wall Street swagger, Main Street sticker shock, and a green energy plot twist. 💸
First up: President Trump’s Fourth of July fireworks weren’t just for the sky—his move to axe wind and solar tax breaks is already jolting the energy sector (and possibly your utility bill). Meanwhile, inflation is making a comeback tour, creeping up 0.3% in June and hitting its highest level in four months. And just when you thought banks were out, they’re back in: JPMorgan, Citi, and Wells Fargo are riding a wave of Q2 dealmaking like it's 2019.
Buckle up. Between policy pivots, price hikes, and IPOs, your freight forecast might need a hedge fund manager.
“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.”
🚨 Wind and Solar Just Got Sidelined—and It’s Gonna Cost Us
President Trump’s July 4th decision to cut federal tax incentives for wind and solar? Yeah, that one’s already sending shockwaves through the energy sector—and the ripple effect is headed straight for your electric bill (and your freight calendar).
Without those credits, clean energy projects just got a lot more expensive to build. That means fewer solar farms, stalled wind development, and a pivot back to natural gas—which is not only pricier to run, but also about to get more expensive. States like Oklahoma could see rate hikes up to 350% over the next decade. And if you’re in logistics? That’s your new overhead talking.
Why logistics professionals should care:
No tax credits = fewer clean energy builds = fewer big hauls, infrastructure jobs, and specialized shipments (turbines, solar panels, storage units, etc). Higher power costs also hit fleets, warehouses, cold storage, and ops centers.
🔥 Hot take:
This energy pivot didn’t just scorch solar—it’s about to roast your margins. If your logistics pipeline banked on clean energy expansion, you better have a Plan B. The only thing getting a boost right now? Gas plants and grid stress.
📈 Inflation’s Creepin’—and Tariffs Are the Culprit
Inflation ticked back up in June—up 0.3% month-over-month and 2.7% annually (highest in 4 months). The culprit? Tariffs. And they’re starting to show up in your receipts.
Retailers stocked up ahead of the hikes, but now that inventory’s drying up, we’re seeing price bumps on everything from appliances and electronics to toys and sporting goods. Core inflation (excluding gas and food) stayed tame—for now—but economists are calling this “just the beginning.”
🚛 Why logistics folks should care:
Inflation always ends up riding shotgun in your freight bill. That tariffed TV or overpriced power tool? It's not just a consumer problem—it’s hitting freight rates, fuel surcharges, warehouse ops, and even contract renegotiations. The more imports get taxed, the more your supply chain costs quietly climb.
🔥 Hot Take:
Tariffs don’t knock on the front door—they sneak in through your backend costs. If you’re not auditing contracts or bracing for Q3 price hikes, you're already behind.
💼 Wall Street’s Warming Up—And That Means Freight’s About to Move
Big banks are feeling bullish again. After a slow spring, Q2 brought some life back into the investment banking world—JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo all crushed expectations and saw dealmaking pick up steam. M&A, IPOs, debt underwriting... they’re all on the rise. JPMorgan climbed 7%, Citi jumped 15%, and Wells added 8% in investment banking fees. Not bad for a quarter that started under a cloud of trade drama.
Of course, tariff tension and economic uncertainty are still lurking—but execs say they’re learning to navigate the chaos, and activity is picking up fast in healthcare, tech, and beyond.
🚚 Why logistics should care:
Dealmaking = movement. Expansion projects, new builds, relocations, and restructuring mean one thing: more freight. From data center equipment to lab gear, logistics is the backbone behind the bankers.
🔥 Hot Take:
If the suits are closing deals, your lanes better be open. Freight doesn’t lie—watch the bankers, then follow the shipments.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for July 18, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.