What U.S. supply chain data shows about the holiday season retail winners and losers: CNBC survey

Retail & E-commerce Performance - 63% of supply chain survey respondents indicated increased holiday-related freight movement compared to the previous year, a key indicator for transport stock revenues [1] - E-commerce volumes experienced year-over-year growth between 1% and 10%, contrasting with brick-and-mortar performance [3] - Promotional items topped the list of items sold directly to consumers, followed by housewares, apparel, and toys, reflecting a cost-conscious consumer [3] Freight & Logistics Outlook - Freight volumes have increased as high as 10% for the holidays [2] - 57% of respondents believe logistics is in a recession, leading to a freight rate recession due to reduced prices and volumes [4] - Concerns exist regarding potential trucking bankruptcies resulting from depressed prices and volumes [4] - The outlook on freight volumes for 2026 remains largely the same [4] AI Adoption - Survey respondents are incorporating more AI to enhance speed, analyze inventories for better ordering decisions, and optimize freight pricing [5] - Opinions were divided on whether AI adoption would lead to job elimination [5]