What Distributors Should Watch for Heading into 2026

As the end of a tumultuous 2025 rapidly approaches, distributors are likely already deep into the process of plotting out how next year might look.

Forecasting can be a tricky proposition even in the calmest of economic waters, but between sweeping, unpredictable tariffs, questions about the job market, and worries about inflation, the coming months will likely be anything but tranquil.

Lauren Saidel-Baker, an economist at research and consulting firm ITR Economics, joins Industrial Distribution for a look at the pitfalls facing companies in their forecasting for 2026, and how distributors should address them.