Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
Consumer Confidence Falls for Fifth Straight Month in December
CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 24 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release:
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Consumer Confidence Falls for Fifth Straight Month in December
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U.S. consumer confidence weakened for a fifth consecutive month in December, reflecting growing unease about business conditions, jobs and household income, according to the latest report from The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index declined 3.8 points in December to 89.1, down from an upwardly revised 92.9 in November.
According to The Conference Board report, consumers' assessment
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 24 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release:
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Consumer Confidence Falls for Fifth Straight Month in December
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U.S. consumer confidence weakened for a fifth consecutive month in December, reflecting growing unease about business conditions, jobs and household income, according to the latest report from The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index declined 3.8 points in December to 89.1, down from an upwardly revised 92.9 in November.
According to The Conference Board report, consumers' assessmentof current conditions deteriorated sharply. The Present Situation Index fell 9.5 points to 116.8, driven by more negative views of business and labor market conditions. Meanwhile, the Expectations Index, which measures consumers' short-term outlook for income, business and employment, held steady at 70.7. The expectations measure has now remained below 80 for 11 consecutive months, a level that historically signals heightened recession risk.
Shawn DuBravac, NMMA's fractional chief economist, said the report points to a consumer that is increasingly cautious but not retreating entirely.
"Confidence remains under pressure as concerns about inflation and job security persist, contributing to a more cautious consumer even as broader spending indicators remain relatively healthy," said DuBravac. "For discretionary categories such as recreational boating, households are continuing to weigh purchasing decisions carefully."
NMMA will continue tracking consumer sentiment and its impact on the industry. Members are encouraged to leverage tools such as the Monthly Industry Data Summary and Marine Leadership Barometer to support planning and navigate evolving market dynamics.
For more economic updates and data-driven insights, visit nmma.org/statistics or contact the NMMA Business Intelligence team at BI@nmma.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nmma.org/press/article/25345
U.S. Chamber Statement on H-1B Decision
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 [Category: Business] -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce posted the following news release:
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U.S. Chamber Statement on H-1B Decision
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WASHINGTON, D.C. Daryl Joseffer, Executive Vice President and Chief Counsel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued the below statement following the U.S. District Court's decision upholding the Presidential Proclamation imposing a $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee:
"The $100,000 fee makes H-1B visas cost prohibitive for businesses, especially small- and medium-sized businesses that can least afford it. We are disappointed in the court's decision
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 [Category: Business] -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce posted the following news release:
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U.S. Chamber Statement on H-1B Decision
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WASHINGTON, D.C. Daryl Joseffer, Executive Vice President and Chief Counsel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued the below statement following the U.S. District Court's decision upholding the Presidential Proclamation imposing a $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee:
"The $100,000 fee makes H-1B visas cost prohibitive for businesses, especially small- and medium-sized businesses that can least afford it. We are disappointed in the court's decisionand are considering further legal options to ensure that the H-1B visa program can operate as Congress intended: to enable American businesses of all sizes to access the global talent they need to grow their operations."
Read more about the positive benefits of H-1B visas to the U.S. economy here.
Read Neil Bradley's article about addressing the worker shortage through legal immigration reform here.
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Original text here: https://www.uschamber.com/lawsuits/u-s-chamber-statement-on-h-1b-decision
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas: The Great Marine Dealer Reset
BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota, Dec. 23 -- The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas issued the following news:
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The Great Marine Dealer Reset
Why 2026 Must Be the Year We Reinvent the Dealership Business Model.
By Matt Gruhn
A customer recently told one of our dealers a story that has stuck with me ever since.
He had reached out with a handful of simple questions about a boat he was interested in. Instead of answers, he got the response too many customers still receive: "Come on in and we can walk through everything." He lived two hours away. He explained that, but the message didn't
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BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota, Dec. 23 -- The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas issued the following news:
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The Great Marine Dealer Reset
Why 2026 Must Be the Year We Reinvent the Dealership Business Model.
By Matt Gruhn
A customer recently told one of our dealers a story that has stuck with me ever since.
He had reached out with a handful of simple questions about a boat he was interested in. Instead of answers, he got the response too many customers still receive: "Come on in and we can walk through everything." He lived two hours away. He explained that, but the message didn'tchange. "Come on in."
So, he went.
He arrived exactly when they asked him to, only to find the boat still wrapped, inaccessible, and the team completely unprepared for his arrival. No plan. No guidance. No apology for the wasted time. Just a promise that they'd "get it ready next time."
His response was the real gut punch: "There won't be a next time."
This isn't an isolated story. And before you rush to the comforting conclusion that your sales team would never let something like this happen, pause for a moment. Because this story, in its own form, is happening inside dealerships just like yours every day.
Maybe it's not a wrapped boat. Maybe it's an unanswered email. A follow-up that never happened. A weak handoff between departments. A service update that arrived too late. A price explanation that wasn't clear. A customer who left more confused than when they walked in.
The specifics differ, but the pattern is the same: We fail to meet expectations that should be considered the bare minimum. And if we can't execute on the basics, how can we possibly be ready for the far more demanding expectations today's buyers bring around transparency, responsiveness, digital access, expertise, and a frictionless experience from the very first touchpoint?
The real danger is not that these moments happen. It's that we dismiss them as flukes or assume they only happen somewhere else. These are flashing red lights, pointing to deeper issues. Processes that need tightening, habits that need unlearning, communication gaps that need closing.
And we are out of time to ignore them. Customers have been telling us for some time now that they want speed, clarity, honesty, and consistency, and the gap between those expectations and our reality has only widened. The marketplace will no longer wait for us to catch up.
Which is why 2026 cannot be treated as just another year. It must be the year we take a hard look at how we operate, identify where the customer experience breaks down, and fix the issues with urgency and intention.
The challenges our businesses face today are not just another downturn or temporary softness. This moment represents a fundamental clash between a retail model built for a very different time and the rapidly evolving expectations of today's consumer. Simply working harder inside the old structure isn't going to make it work. This moment demands a reset and a reinvention of what the dealership experience is and how it functions.
But this isn't a message of doom. It's an opportunity. And it begins with recognizing that dealers remain the beating heart of this industry. You are the trusted advisors, the educators, the connectors who bring families onto the water and keep them there. When customers experience the level of service dealers want to provide, they fall in love with boating and stay in love with boating.
The challenge is that the customer has changed faster than our business model has evolved. The structure of today's dealership simply wasn't built for the expectations that now define the marketplace.
Modern customers want clarity from the moment they reach out, not a maze of questions left unanswered. They expect transparency, speed, and consistency across every interaction. They want real-time updates, honest timelines, and meaningful guidance as they make major purchase decisions. They want fewer surprises and more confidence. And they want the entire experience -- research, purchase, ownership -- to feel connected and respectful of their time and intelligence.
Most dealers strive to deliver exactly that. But the current model wasn't built for it. That is why the MRAA formed its Dealership of the Future Task Force, bringing together dealers, manufacturers, technology partners, and industry leaders who all recognize the same truth: our model is lagging behind, and the gap is widening.
What MRAA's Task Force is surfacing is both urgent and encouraging. Their work has identified the three forces that are reshaping the future of marine retail, indeed the future of your business.
The first is the customer. They're no longer simply shopping for a boat; they're shopping for an experience that feels seamless online, confident in the showroom, and well-supported on the water. The current process is too slow, too opaque, and too inconsistent to satisfy those expectations. Customers want answers before they ever walk through your doors. They want honesty, realistic timelines, and to feel understood. When boats cost more than ever and downtime can derail an entire season, their tolerance for friction disappears.
The second force is technology. Digital tools are no longer optional or "nice to have." AI-powered communication, online scheduling, real-time service updates, transparent inventory, mobile access, and unified data systems have become baseline expectations, not competitive advantages. Dealers embracing technology aren't chasing trends. They're creating consistency, improving responsiveness, and freeing their teams to deliver their best work.
The third force is the retail experience itself. The Task Force discussions have made it clear: this is about rebuilding an outdated retail business model, where a negotiation-centered approach no longer aligns with the modern ownership journey. The dealership of the future is an experience center, a technology-enabled, relationship-driven hub centered on transparency, convenience, expertise, and lifelong engagement. It blends digital pathways and in-person experiences seamlessly. And it operates in alignment with manufacturers who understand that customer experience must be a shared commitment.
So, what does that Dealership of the Future look like? It's a business where every stage of the purchase and service journey is visible and predictable. Where updates are proactive, not reactive. Where inventory and pricing are accurate and real-time. Where staff aren't selling; they're guiding. Where downtime shrinks, trust grows, and retention becomes the engine of every department. It's a business built around the ownership lifecycle, not the transaction.
As we step into 2026, my call to you is unmistakable: evolve. Meet these forces head-on and build the dealership your customers already assume exists. Elevate the standards of trust, transparency, and consistency that define world-class retailers in every industry. And lean on the tools, insights, and frameworks MRAA's Task Force will deliver throughout the year. This is your roadmap; we'll walk it with you.
You don't need to have the future figured out to shape it. You only need the courage to begin. Market tides will rise and fall, but leadership, adaptability, and intention will always chart the course forward. The Dealership of the Future is being shaped right now, and those who embrace this moment will be the ones steering our industry into the next decade.
So, the question isn't whether the future is coming. It's whether you're ready to build it, or watch someone else do it first.
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Original text here: https://mraa.com/the-great-marine-dealer-reset/
[Category: Business]
Consumer Technology Association: Retailers Gather at CES 2026 to Discover Innovations Shaping Consumer Behavior
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Dec. 23 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release:
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Retailers Gather at CES 2026 to Discover Innovations Shaping Consumer Behavior
Session with Best Buy CEO Corie Barry and expanded retail programming showcases the future of commerce
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The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R) announces retail innovation will take center stage at CES(R) 2026, highlighting the technologies and experiences reshaping how consumers discover products, engage with brands, and make purchase decisions. From AI powered personalization to seamless omnichannel
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, Dec. 23 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release:
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Retailers Gather at CES 2026 to Discover Innovations Shaping Consumer Behavior
Session with Best Buy CEO Corie Barry and expanded retail programming showcases the future of commerce
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The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R) announces retail innovation will take center stage at CES(R) 2026, highlighting the technologies and experiences reshaping how consumers discover products, engage with brands, and make purchase decisions. From AI powered personalization to seamless omnichannelecosystems and next generation social shopping, CES 2026 will bring together the retailers, brands, platforms and creators defining the new retail economy.
"Consumers expect immediacy, personalization, seamless movement between digital and physical experiences," said Kinsey Fabrizio, President, CTA. "CES 2026 will highlight the technologies and partnerships redefining product discovery, loyalty and meaningful brand-shopper connections."
Attendees will see AI engines customizing discovery, content linking to purchases, advanced store tech enhancing in-person experiences and data insights predicting consumer needs. CES will showcase a retail world built on deeper connection, intuitive design and more intentional shopping journeys.
The conference session, "Seamless Ecosystems, Personalized Experiences: The Next Era of Retail," will feature Best Buy CEO Corie Barry in conversation with Michael Kassan, CEO of 3C Ventures at C Space(R). Together, they will explore how aligning people, software and services come together to create retail journeys that feel effortless, personal and grounded in human connection. C Space at ARIA is the epicenter of innovative conversations for advertisers, marketers and media executives.
* The Retail Conference Track will examine the evolution of discovery, experience and purchase, with sessions including:
* Content to Commerce: The World of Social Shopping
* Experience Driven Retail
* The Future of "Search" at Retail with Justin Honaman, Head, Worldwide Retail & Consumer Goods Industry Strategy & Business Development, AWS
* The New Retail Experience in the AI Powered Store with Siobhan McFeeney, SVP, Technology, Target
The Retail Track is available for purchase as a standalone option or comes as part of the Deluxe Pass for conference programming. Additional individual sessions included in CES registration will feature leaders in retail media, creator commerce, AI-fueled insights, mixed reality, and full-funnel demand generation.
The retail conversation will continue across other programming with Daniel Danker, EVP, AI Acceleration, Product and Design, Walmart on the CES Foundry Stage and Seemantini Godbole, CTO, Lowes as part of a Great Minds session.
CES 2026 will deliver an immersive look at retail's next chapter and connect retailers, brands, creators, investors and technology innovators building the next era of consumer engagement and commerce. Brands like Amazon, Best Buy, IKEA, Instacart, Roundel, Walmart and more will be represented on our stages and show floor.
CES is where technology transforms the shopping experience and takes place Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. Register at CES.tech.
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About CES(R):
CES is the most powerful tech event in the world - the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This is where the world's biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R), CES features every aspect of the tech sector. CES 2026 takes place Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. Learn more at CES.tech and follow CES on social.
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About Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R):
As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world's leading innovators - from startups to global brands - helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES(R) - the most powerful tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.
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Original text here: https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/retailers-gather-at-ces-2026-to-discover-innovations-shaping-consumer-behavior?_gl=1*6jt04u*_gcl_au*NjYyMjYxMzk4LjE3NjUzNjA4MTg.
[Category: Electronic Products]
Cannabis Use Associated With Myriad Negative Impacts in Adolescents Even With Infrequent Use
ITASCA, Illinois, Dec. 23 [Category: Medical] -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release:
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Cannabis Use Associated With Myriad Negative Impacts in Adolescents Even With Infrequent Use
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A study examining the impact of cannabis use on adolescents found that even infrequent use was associated with poor academic performance, emotional states, impulsivity, and issues with self-regulation when compared with peers who didn't use cannabis. Researchers found the negative impacts of cannabis use to be present regardless of frequency of use, but more severe for younger
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ITASCA, Illinois, Dec. 23 [Category: Medical] -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release:
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Cannabis Use Associated With Myriad Negative Impacts in Adolescents Even With Infrequent Use
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A study examining the impact of cannabis use on adolescents found that even infrequent use was associated with poor academic performance, emotional states, impulsivity, and issues with self-regulation when compared with peers who didn't use cannabis. Researchers found the negative impacts of cannabis use to be present regardless of frequency of use, but more severe for youngerusers.
The study, "Cannabis Use Among US Adolescents," published in the January 2025 Pediatrics (published online on Dec. 23), examined over 162,500 responses to a national survey of public high school students in grades 8, 10 and 12 between 2018 and 2022. About 74% of respondents reported no cannabis use with the remaining 26% reporting noncurrent use. Frequent cannabis users (monthly at 4.8%, weekly at 3.6% and near-daily at 4.6%) were more likely to be older, with the median age around 17 years old. Researchers found cannabis use was associated with 2 to 5 times increased odds of low academic achievement.
Cannabis use was also associated with low social engagement, high impulsivity and aggression, as well as increased symptoms of anxiety, distress, and low self-esteem. Authors state that their findings underscore the need for routine inquiry regarding cannabis use in adolescents.
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Original text here: https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/pediatrics2/2025/cannabis-use-associated-with-myriad-negative-impacts-in-adolescents-even-with-infrequent-use/
CMS Innovation Center Announces Medicare Part A, Part B Drug Models
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Dec. 23 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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CMS Innovation Center Announces Medicare Part A, Part B Drug Models
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center announced two new mandatory programs to mitigate the increasing cost of drugs.
The Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs or GUARD Model is designed to test drugs using international drug pricing information to identify a benchmark that reflects prices paid in a set of economically comparable countries. The GUARD Model would begin Jan. 1, 2027.
The
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Dec. 23 -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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CMS Innovation Center Announces Medicare Part A, Part B Drug Models
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center announced two new mandatory programs to mitigate the increasing cost of drugs.
The Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs or GUARD Model is designed to test drugs using international drug pricing information to identify a benchmark that reflects prices paid in a set of economically comparable countries. The GUARD Model would begin Jan. 1, 2027.
TheGlobal Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing or GLOBE Model is designed to test whether a payment model that uses an alternative method for calculating Part B inflation rebate amounts for certain payable Medicare Part B drugs and biologicals would reduce costs for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. The GLOBE Model would begin Oct. 1, 2026.
Comments on both rules will be due 60 days following publication within the Federal Register. The Missouri Hospital Association published issue briefs for both models.
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About Missouri Hospital Association
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.
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Original text here: https://www.mohospitals.org/newsroom/cms-innovation-center-announces-medicare-part-a-part-b-drug-models
[Category: Health Care]
AISC Updates Two Certification Standards for 2026
CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 23 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
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AISC Updates Two Certification Standards for 2026
CHICAGO - The American Institute of Steel Construction has published new editions of two of the standards that govern its certification program for steel fabricators and erectors.
The 2025 editions of AISC's Standard for Certification Programs (AISC 207-25) and Certification Standard for Shop Application of Complex Protective Coating Systems (AISC 420-25/SSPC-QP3) are now both available as free downloads on AISC's website.
The
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 23 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
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AISC Updates Two Certification Standards for 2026
CHICAGO - The American Institute of Steel Construction has published new editions of two of the standards that govern its certification program for steel fabricators and erectors.
The 2025 editions of AISC's Standard for Certification Programs (AISC 207-25) and Certification Standard for Shop Application of Complex Protective Coating Systems (AISC 420-25/SSPC-QP3) are now both available as free downloads on AISC's website.
The2025 edition of AISC 207 will continue as the primary reference for the AISC Certification program. It supersedes the 2023 edition and will take effect for current program participants and applicants for audits on or after February 1, 2026.
The 2025 edition of AISC 420/SSPC-QP3 is published as a joint effort with the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). It is approved by the Certification Standards Committee (AISC) and the Standards Committee on Accreditation Standards (AMPP). This refreshes a standard that was last published in 2010. It will be used for the certification program at AISC starting with audits on or after February 1, 2026.
The new documents are available for download at go.aisc.org/standards.
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American Institute of Steel Construction
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), a not-for-profit technical institute supported by the steel industry, partners with the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community to develop safe and efficient steel specifications and codes while driving innovation to make steel the most sustainable, economic, and resilient structural material. For more than a century, AISC has been a reliable resource for information and advice on the design and construction of domestically fabricated structural steel buildings and bridges.
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Original text here: https://www.aisc.org/pressreleases/press-releases/aisc-updates-two-certification-standards-for-2026/
[Category: Steel]
