"Passion is the currency of progress. Invest in your fire and watch the world blaze with possibility."
5 min read · December 2023
I started these journals as a hobby in August 2023 — inspired by a friend, fueled by a desire to learn out loud. Six months later, I can't express my gratitude for those of you who read, responded, and pushed back with your own perspectives. Not only did I learn more about supply chain, economics, and freight — writing helped me crystallize my thinking and sparked conversations I'll carry forward.
Thank you. Genuinely. Here's the year in review.
Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2 in December — the lowest in four months, signaling continued contraction after a brief expansion in November. Oil prices pulled back to $71.02/barrel for WTI crude after October's spike to $92+. The volatility in energy markets throughout the year underscored how dependent global supply chains remain on oil pricing.
Adoption accelerated dramatically. From demand forecasting to route optimization, AI is delivering measurable ROI. Companies that moved early are reporting 10-15% efficiency gains. This train is leaving the station — get on board or get left behind.
Amazon set the standard, with robotics handling over 60% of operations in some warehouses. Robotic picking, autonomous guided vehicles, and AI-powered sorting systems are no longer future tech — they're today's competitive baseline.
While crypto remained volatile, the underlying blockchain technology made quiet but meaningful progress in supply chain traceability. PwC estimates blockchain could add $1.7 trillion to the global economy over the next decade. Quantum computing races ($IBM, $MSFT, $NVDA) will determine how fast this scales.
"This year tested our patience, resilience, and Netflix subscription limits. But hey — we made it."
2023 was defined by the Fed's aggressive response to inflation: seven rate hikes totaling 4.25 percentage points, and a massive reduction in their balance sheet. Inflation has come down meaningfully from its 9.1% peak — but at 3.4% in December, it's still above the 2% target.
My personal positioning: still holding short-term treasury bonds at 5.17% yield — the best risk-free return in a generation. Cautiously building exposure to AI and semiconductor plays as rate cut expectations support equities.
"This year tested our patience, resilience, and Netflix subscription limits. But hey — we made it."
— Daivik Suresh, December 2023-DAIVIK SURESH-
Supply Chain + Business Analytics Enthusiast · December 2023