Dun & Bradstreet, FedEx launch near‑real‑time Retail Momentum Index for supply‑chain insights

FedEx and Dun & Bradstreet unveil near‑real‑time retail momentum index

A combined shipping and business‑data Retail Momentum Index

Dun & Bradstreet and FedEx Dataworks announce a strategic collaboration to create new data and analytics solutions, beginning with the Dun & Bradstreet–FedEx Dataworks Retail Momentum Index. The index integrates FedEx Dataworks’ surface and air shipping flows with Dun & Bradstreet’s maritime shipping volumes, container delay metrics, business activity signals, entity characteristics and industry and location insights. The partners say this fusion produces a more complete picture of supplier networks and company relationships across shipment types.

The index is designed to fill critical information gaps in U.S. retail trade by acting as a near‑real‑time measure of retail momentum across supply and demand. It aims to turn previously invisible shipment and relationship signals into actionable indicators that detect inflection points ahead of traditional government reports such as monthly retail sales and inventory releases. The measure benchmarks against adjusted monthly returns from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Advance Monthly Retail Sales and Food Services series to align its signals with established retail indicators.

Analysts and corporate users expect the combined dataset to strengthen early‑warning capabilities and operational resilience. The partners describe the offering as able to predict and identify risk, enable faster response, and support scenario analysis and stress testing for supply chains. Alex Zuck, general manager of risk at Dun & Bradstreet, says the collaboration deepens the firm’s supply‑chain insights, while FedEx Dataworks leverages FedEx’s bellwether position in the global economy to unlock new analytics for business and financial decision‑makers worldwide.

Target users and practical uses

The product targets corporate supply‑chain teams as well as investors, lenders and insurers seeking more timely signals of demand shifts, supplier disruption and inventory stress. Use cases include early warning of supplier problems, improved procurement timing, inventory optimization and stress testing of counterparty exposures.

Rollout timeline, privacy and commercial terms

Dun & Bradstreet and FedEx say pilot programs and commercial rollouts follow validation of the index. The partners emphasize data privacy and regulatory compliance in combining proprietary and shipment data. Pricing, timing and customer onboarding details are pending and will be announced after pilots conclude.