Wells Fargo released its inaugural Wells Fargo’s 2025 Supply Chain Report, From factory to checkout: The supply chain story you didn't know you were living. This report offers a timely and data-rich look at how tariffs, port delays, and cautious retail strategies are reshaping the supply chain — just as the holiday season approaches.
Key Findings:
- 13% increase in goods financed from foreign suppliers through April 2025, as businesses raced to get ahead of tariff uncertainty
- U.S. goods and services deficit narrowed by $10.4B in June, driven by a sharp drop in imports
- Wells Fargo Supply Chain Finance, June data shows steady invoice financing volumes, suggesting cautious optimism. Interestingly, China trade volume through the first half of June 2025 nearly exceeded all of June 2024, suggesting that some companies are cautiously resuming sourcing from China but the overall scale does not reflect aggressive restocking.
- Retailers are front-loading seasonal orders and cutting capital expenditures to absorb rising costs without passing them to consumers
- 66% of shoppers plan to start holiday shopping early, with retailers encouraging early demand to avoid last-minute logistics pressure
- China+1 sourcing strategies and domestic production are gaining traction, but near-term disruptions remain
Why It Matters: From apparel and tech to auto and retail, the ripple effects of tariffs are real and immediate. This report offers a granular look at how businesses are adapting and what consumers should expect as we head into a holiday season unlike any other.
Wells Fargo brings extensive industry expertise from supply chain, retail, and transportation finance to complete this report:
- Adam Davis, Managing Director, Retail Finance
- Jeremy Jansen, Head of Global Originations, Supply Chain Finance
- John Crum, Head of Specialty Equipment Finance and Leasing with a focus on Transportation
Read the full report here.