UPS announced fourth-quarter 2024 consolidated revenues of $25.3 billion, a 1.5% increase from the fourth quarter of 2023. “I want to thank all UPSers for their hard work and efforts as we closed out 2024 with an outstanding peak, delivering best-in-class service and strong financial results ahead of our targets for the quarter,” said Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer. Full-Year 2024 Consolidated Results: Revenue was $91.1 billion. Operating profit of $8.5 billion; Operating margin was 9.3%; Diluted EPS totaled $6.75; Cash from operations was $10.1 billion

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is excited to announce that its mathematics and social studies learning solutions for grades K-12 have been approved by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for inclusion on its list of state-adopted high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). The MDE determined that Savvas Mississippi math and social studies programs are fully aligned to Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards and designed to be “robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that students need for success in college and careers and to compete in the global economy.” In the state’s HQIM review rubrics, all Savvas math and social studies learning solutions received high scores — at each grade level — on all three gateways (or criteria), which include Alignment to Standards; Rigor and Instructional Practices; and Usability. Mississippi school districts can purchase state-adopted Savvas instructional materials beginning on April 1, 2025.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) released its StatShot report for November 2024 reflecting reported revenue for Trade (Consumer Books), Religious Presses, Higher Education Course Materials, and Professional Publishing. Total revenues across all categories for November 2024 were up 10.3% as compared to November 2023, coming in at $1.1 billion. Year-to-date revenues were up 7.3%, at $13.3 billion for the first eleven months of the year. Trade (Consumer Books) revenues were up 7.9% in November at $919.8 million. In terms of physical paper format revenues during the month of November, in the Trade (Consumer Books) category, Hardback revenues were up 6.9%, coming in at $384.9 million; Paperbacks were up 7.7%, with $286.6 million in revenue; Mass Market was up 17.5% to $11.6 million; and Special Bindings were up 8.3%, with $25.2 million in revenue.

REI Co-op president & CEO, Eric Artz, today announced that he will retire in March as CEO, marking a new chapter in the co-op's 87-year history. Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI Board Director and seasoned retail leader, will join REI as president on February 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31.  Laughton has held leadership roles at Nike, Athleta, and Sephora. Her experience and personal passion balance strategic vision for the future of retail, innovation and operational rigor, love for the outdoors, and appreciation for the co-op's unique culture. She has also held board roles with Impossible Foods and Instacart. During the planned handover period, Mary Beth will be out on the road and in stores and distribution centers, building connections with employees, partners and community members. 

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is pleased to announce that the Tennessee State Board of Education has approved its evidence-based, standards-aligned K-12 science programs for statewide adoption. Savvas science programs are aligned to the new Tennessee Academic Standards for Science, which require science curricula to be “academically rigorous, relevant to today’s world, and attendant to what makes Tennessee a unique place to live and learn.” The programs also feature three-dimensional learning experiences that enable students to master science engineering, disciplinary core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts in a real-world, scientifically based setting.

If you’re going to print something, print it beautifully. Every choice, from paper weight to finish shapes how a printed piece feels, engages, and communicates. Darcey Thompson, Director of Marketing and Creative at Southeastern Printing, shares insights on how selecting the right paperboard weight, folding and scoring techniques, and finishing options can transform a print piece into a powerful brand statement. Selecting the weight of paper for a print project isn’t just about function—it’s about creating a sensory experience that reinforces its message. It’s the heft of a direct mail piece that stops it from being discarded, the reassuring thickness of a brochure that conveys its importance, and the silky smoothness of a notecard that encourages recipients to hold onto it a little longer. Paper weight dictates the immediate sensory reaction, guiding both perception and behavior.

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is pleased to announce that the Alabama State Board of Education has approved its evidence-based, standards-aligned K-12 science programs for statewide adoption. Savvas science programs are aligned to the 2023 Alabama Course of Study: Science, which provides the framework for the study of science in Alabama’s public schools and the standards that support equitable, innovative, and creative learning. Designed to provide students with engaging, three-dimensional learning experiences that integrate science engineering, disciplinary core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts in a real-world, scientifically based setting, the company’s high-quality instructional materials for Alabama’s K-12 science classrooms include: Alabama elevateScience; Alabama Millesr & Levine Biology; Alabama Experience Chemistry; Alabama Experience Physics; Alabama Environmental Science: Your World, Your Turn; Physical Science: Concepts in Action.

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, today announced that its SIOP® Model Professional Learning has been adopted by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) as a state-approved English Learner Professional Development Program. Developed by founding authors, Jana Echevarría, Ph.D., MaryEllen Vogt, Ed.D., and Deborah J. Short, Ph.D., the SIOP® Model instructional framework is proven to be effective for making grade-level content accessible and engaging for English learners (ELs) while simultaneously advancing their academic language development. To better support Colorado students who are English language learners, the CDE’s State Board of Education adopted a new English Learner Professional Learning requirement for educators holding an elementary, math, science, social studies, or English language arts (or any middle-level) endorsement on a professional license.

Two Iowa newspapers, The Dubuque Telegraph Herald and Cedar Rapids Gazette have announced that would reduce their print schedules to three days a week. The Telegraph Herald will reduce its print schedule from six days a week to three: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, starting on Feb. 15. The Gazette will cut its print schedule seven days a week to three: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. It starts on Feb. 17. The two Iowa papers blamed the evolving news landscape and the shift by readers to digital for the change.

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is excited to announce that its enVision Mathematics South Carolina program for Grades K-5 has been approved by the South Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) for inclusion on the new list of state-adopted high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). The award-winning enVision Mathematics program provides evidence-based, standards-aligned content, combined with personalized adaptive learning, to help all students develop deep conceptual math understanding, procedural skills, and fluency. In addition to enVision, the South Carolina SBE also approved Experience Math K-5, another math program by Savvas. A student-centered program that engages students through exploration and a hands-on learning approach, Experience Math K-5 also supports teachers with high-value, in-the-moment professional learning to create collaborative classrooms.

Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is proud to announce that it has been named to the 2025 edition of the GSV 150, an annual list of the top 150 private companies transforming digital learning and workforce skills. This is the third year in a row that Savvas has been named to the GSV 150. “Savvas has long been a leader in utilizing adaptive technology to provide students with deeply personalized learning experiences,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “Advances in artificial intelligence are allowing us today to offer even greater personalized learning for students and enhanced support for educators in ways not previously possible. To be named to the GSV 150 is truly an honor, especially for three years running, as it recognizes our commitment to using technology to transform the K-12 teaching and learning experience.”

Nordstrom, Inc. announced a total Company net sales increase of 4.9 percent and a comparable sales increase of 5.8 percent for the nine-week holiday period ended January 4, 2025, compared with the nine weeks ended December 30, 2023. For the Nordstrom banner, net sales increased 3.7 percent and comparable sales increased 6.5 percent, while Nordstrom Rack banner net sales increased 7.4 percent and comparable sales increased 4.3 percent. "As a result of our efforts to remain competitive in the promotional environment and the strength of our offering, our holiday sales in November and December exceeded the expectations we shared during our most recent earnings call," said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. "For the full year, we're raising our topline outlook and reaffirming our profitability guidance." Based on holiday results, the Company has updated its fiscal 2024 outlook. The Company now expects revenue growth, including retail sales and credit card revenues, of 1.5 to 2.5 percent versus the 53-week fiscal 2023, which includes an approximately 135 basis point unfavorable impact from the 53rd week, compared with its prior outlook of flat to 1.0 percent growth. Additionally, the Company expects comparable sales growth of 2.5 to 3.5 percent versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023, compared with its prior outlook of 1.0 to 2.0 percent growth.

Macy’s, Inc. go-forward business achieved quarter-to-date1 comparable sales2 growth, with Macy’s First 50 locations and luxury nameplates Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury all continuing their trend of positive comparable sales2 . Macy’s digital channel also achieved comparable sales2 growth for the period1 . Macy’s, Inc. comparable sales2 were roughly flat quarter-to-date1 with Macy’s non-First 50 locations, inclusive of non-go-forward locations, performing below expectations and generating negative comparable sales2 . The company expects fourth quarter 2024 adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in-line with the previously issued range of $1.40 to $1.65 and net sales to be at, to slightly below, the low-end of the previously issued range of $7.8 billion to $8.0 billion.

Though unit sales of print books rose by less than 1% in 2024 over 2023, it was the first annual increase in three years at outlets that report to Circana BookScan. Unit sales totaled 782.7 million in the year ended Dec. 28, 2024, compared to 778.3 million in 2023. While 2024 sales were down from the 839.7 million units sold in the peak year of 2021, the figure was higher than the 759.6 million print copies sold in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. In 2024, sales gradually improved over the course of the year and saw a 1.6% increase in the fourth quarter. For the full year, the sales performance followed a familiar path, as adult fiction was once again the driver, with units rising 4.8%. Fantasy had the biggest increase in the adult segment, up 35.8%.

The Association of American Publishers today welcomed the release of the 2024 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Notorious Markets List highlights online and physical markets around the world engaged in industrial-scale copyright infringement and counterfeiting, which adversely impacts the interests of U.S. publishers, authors, and other rights holders. “This annual report is a critically important tool for identifying online sites and marketplaces that traffic in infringing copies of books and journal articles,” said Lui Simpson, Executive Vice President for Global Policy at AAP. “On behalf of publishers we thank USTR for their work in protecting the intellectual property of publishers and authors, whose livelihoods directly depend on the protection and enforcement of their rights,”

“The results of our first quarter signal a positive start to the 2025 fiscal year and demonstrate meaningful progress, with total revenue growing compared to this time last year,” said Andrew MacLeod, Postmedia President and Chief Executive Officer. “I am particularly encouraged by the trajectory of our advertising revenue stream, which is showing positive year-over-year growth. This, combined with strong performance in our circulation and parcel divisions, reflects the successful execution of our strategic initiatives and the increasing value we deliver to our partners,” said MacLeod. “As we move forward, we remain focused on sustainable growth and operational excellence across all our business segments.” Revenue for the quarter was $110.3 million as compared to $104.6 million in the same period in the prior year, representing an increase of $5.7 million (5.4%). Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and restructuring increased $6.1 million, or 6.1%, for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, relative to the same period in the prior year. Operating income before depreciation, amortization and restructuring in the quarter was $5.5 million, a decrease of $0.4 million relative to the same period in the prior year. Net loss in the quarter ended November 30, 2024 was $24.5 million, as compared to a net loss of $10.6 million in the same period in the prior year.

The union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the U.S. economy. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group, in a joint statement, called the agreement a "win-win." The deal includes a resolution in automation, which had been the thorniest issue of on the table. "This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong," the groups said.

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $27.52 billion for the retail month of December, the five weeks ended January 5, 2025, an increase of 9.9 percent from $25.03 billion last year. Net sales for the first eighteen weeks were $94.04 billion, an increase of 8.0 percent from $87.07 billion last year.

Adobe released online shopping data for the 2024 holiday season, covering the period from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024. Based on Adobe Analytics data, the analysis provides the most comprehensive view into U.S. e-commerce by analyzing commerce transactions online, covering over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites, 100 million SKUs and 18 product categories. Adobe Analytics is part of Adobe Experience Cloud, relied upon by the majority of the top 100 internet retailers in the U.S.* to deliver, measure and personalize shopping experiences online. Consumers spent $241.4 billion online from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, up 8.7% year-over-year (YoY) and setting a new record for e-commerce. 15 days saw consumers spend more than $4 billion in a single day (up from 11 days in 2023). Mobile shopping hit a new milestone, with the majority of online transactions (54.5%) taking place through a smartphone this season (up from 51.1% in 2023); Mobile shopping was highest on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), driving 65% of online sales (63% in 2023).

Wiley continues to expand the reach of its medical education programs through a new partnership with M3 Digital Communications. This new partnership will enable Wiley's medical education programs to reach a larger target audience of Japanese medical professionals. M3 Digital Communications is part of the M3 Group Japan, which operates m3.com, one of the largest dedicated healthcare professional sites in Japan, with over 90% of Japanese physicians registered. The company contributes to the medical industry through integrated digital marketing services, including live streaming, websites, video content, and social media. As a result of this new partnership, Wiley and M3 Digital Communications will jointly create and distribute new medical content that meets the information needs of Japanese healthcare professionals.

HarperCollins Holland today announced it has agreed to acquire the lifestyle imprints Altamira, Becht, Dominicus, and Hollandia, along with associated personnel, from publisher Gottmer Uitgevers Groep (Gottmer), effective March 1, 2025. The acquisition will further expand HarperCollins Holland’s fast-growing position in the trade book market in the Netherlands and Belgium. The acquired imprints—part of Gottmer based in Haarlem—have more than 125 years of publishing history. They hold leading positions in their respective markets, with successful bestselling authors, a strong content pool, and exceptional brand awareness. As part of the deal, Vaarbewijs Academy, a boating license training platform, will also join the HarperCollins Holland portfolio.

Eagle Valley Publishing has acquired the Nevada Appeal, The Record-Courier, the Lahontan Valley News and Northern Nevada Business Weekly from Pacific Publishing Company. The terms were not disclosed. The publications will be operated by Nevada News Group, a division of Eagle Valley Publishing, according to the Nevada Appeal. The 29 employees in the group will continue with Eagle Valley Publishing. Eagle Valley Publishing was founded in 2023 by Adam Trumble, the editor of the Appeal and current operations director for the publications.

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) today announced that it has acquired ProntoNLP, a leading provider of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tooling, allowing users to derive differentiated insights from unstructured and structured data. ProntoNLP’s proprietary models and LLM-based signal tools will bolster S&P Global’s textual data analytics capabilities. Founded in 2021, ProntoNLP utilizes proprietary natural language processing (NLP) capabilities coupled with large language models (LLMs) for fast, efficient and deep analysis of unstructured financial data at scale. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the company offers a set of customizable solutions for event detection and sentiment scoring. ProntoNLP will be integrated within the S&P Global Market Intelligence division of S&P Global, and its intellectual property is expected to power broader enterprise-wide applications.

Jerry Cheatham, a 36-year finance leader within Sonoco, has been named interim Chief Financial Officer, replacing Chief Financial Officer Rob Dillard, who has departed the Company. Mr. Cheatham has been Vice President of Global Finance for the Company’s Industrial Paper Packaging segment since December 2022 and previously served in several finance and accounting leadership roles since joining the Company in 1988. Mr. Cheatham holds a BS degree in Accounting from South Carolina State University and an EMBA from Vanderbilt University. The Company is undergoing a retained search for internal and external candidates to identify and select a permanent Chief Financial Officer. “Jerry is a trusted and respected leader within Sonoco who brings strong financial and operational expertise into this role. He will ensure an orderly transition of duties and provide further stability to our global finance organization,” said Howard Coker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I want to thank Rob for his contributions since joining the Company in 2018, and for helping to build our current finance team and focusing our strategy to transform Sonoco into a global leader in sustainable metal and fiber packaging through several significant transactions, including the acquisitions of Eviosys and Ball Metalpack and the recently announced divestiture of our Thermoformed and Flexible Packaging (TFP) business to Toppan Holdings. We wish him all the best in his future professional and personal endeavors.”

Our corrugated manufacturing facility has expanded its capabilities to provide even more options for sustainable, innovative, and customer-focused packaging solutions that protect products and improve supply chain efficiency. Here are some of the benefits our customers can expect from these changes: *Located just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, our corrugated plant exists to help our customers succeed with some of the best production lead times in the market. *Whether it’s designing for multiple SKUs or creating multi-component packaging with interior forms, we deliver unmatched value. *Our hybrid business model strikes the perfect balance between packaging distribution and value-added manufacturing — representing 30% of our revenue. *From regular slotted containers to jumbo boxes and retail displays, we tailor each solution to meet your specifications with efficiency, flexibility, and superior care.

Inteplast Engineered Films (IEF), manufacturer of blown polyethylene (PE) films, and Bison Bag, a New York-based flexible packaging converter, have developed a comprehensive portfolio of store drop-off recyclable flexible packaging solutions. The stand-up pouches align with brand owners’ sustainable packaging goals and satisfy the increasing demands of end users for more recyclable options. Bob Stein, president of Inteplast Engineered Films, said that IEF is focused on taking a leadership role in developing sustainable packaging solutions for some time. “Through projects with suppliers, other Inteplast businesses, and development partners like Bison Bag, IEF has long recognized the exciting opportunity to be a real innovator in the emerging sustainable packaging space. Several years ago, we made it a main objective for our technical and sales teams to focus on how we can better support the shift toward recyclable flexible packaging,” said Stein. “What started as a collaboration incorporating recycled content for a large retailer eventually evolved into our full InteGreen™ family of sustainable films. Today, we’re proud to be a leader in the space.”

Contract talks covering 45,000 dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts are set to restart on Tuesday in a labor dispute that will help set the pace of automation at ports stretching from Maine to Texas. The International Longshoremen’s Association wants to eliminate past labor contract concessions on automation – notably the use of semi-automated cranes that stack containers on docks – arguing they pose a threat to jobs. If the two sides do not reach a deal by Jan. 15, workers at container ports that handle more than half of U.S. ocean imports could start a strike just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

Gannett Co., Inc. and Reuters announced an agreement to provide media brands and publishers with a unique offering that includes ready-to-publish local, regional, state, national and international multimedia news and content. The new offering will combine Reuters extensive national and international coverage with Gannett’s USA TODAY Network coverage of local news from more than 200 publications across the country. This enables media companies to focus their efforts on the stories that matter most to their communities, while relying on Reuters and the USA TODAY Network for relevant content including breaking news, entertainment, sports and lifestyle coverage. This collaboration offers an innovative product that addresses the evolving needs of media brands leveraging USA TODAY Network’s extensive national reach and Reuters unparalleled national and international coverage. The collaboration delivers an unbiased and impartial news offering from Reuters, with USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network’s extensive coverage on diverse topics from local communities, delivered in a single news feed.

The Postal Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to designate Commissioner Robert G. Taub as vice chairman of the Commission effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Commissioner Tom Day. Agency regulations provide that the commissioners elect a member to serve as vice chairman for a term of one year. Robert G. Taub was chairman of the Commission for more than 6 years, from December 2014 until January 2021. Three times appointed to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011, 2016, and 2023, Commissioner Taub has more than 40 years of public service experience at the local, state, and federal levels. Before joining the Commission in October 2011, he was a principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh. As an Army senior executive, he helped the Secretary lead a workforce of more than 1.2 million people and manage an annual budget exceeding $200 billion. Commissioner Taub was awarded the Army's Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service.

Maersk is sending a message to customers ahead of a possible second strike at the East and Gulf Coast ports—pick up your cargo before Jan. 15. The container shipping giant said in a Tuesday advisory that it strongly encourages customers to retrieve their loaded containers from the ports ahead of the contract expiration date, as well as return all empty containers to the gateways. “This proactive measure will help mitigate any potential disruptions at the terminals,” said Maersk in the update. “Our teams are actively developing contingency plans to minimize the impact should a labor disruption occur. “ The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has maintained that it will go on strike for a second time in more than three months after walking away from negotiations in November. The ILA went on strike for three days from Oct. 1-3 before coming to an agreement on a 61.5 percent wage increase spread over six years.

The Ainsworth (Nebraska) Star-Journal has been saved by a last-minute purchase that the co-owner Rod Worrell calls a “Christmas miracle.” The paper is being taken over by a group that includes local radio station owner Graig Kinzie and Clint and Katie Painter, who own a car dealership in Ainsworth, the Nebraska Examiner reports. Also in the group are Kirk and Chelsea Peterson, Kinzie was preparing to assume ownership of the paper, but couldn’t find anyone to run it in the tight labor market. But the Painters came forward and said their daughter Erin is returning to town and is interested in doing the job.