ASA Economist Chris Kuehl Examines Consumer Strength and Global Supply Chain Risks

In the latest episode of ASA’s Keeping it Real with Dr. Kuehl podcast, ASA Chief Economist Chris Kuehl takes a deeper look at what continues to drive economic outcomes for American Supply Association members, with a particular focus on the resilience of the American consumer.
 

A central question explored in the episode is why the U.S. has managed to avoid a traditional recession in recent years and whether the economy is truly becoming “recession resistant” or simply more resilient than other global economies. According to Dr. Kuehl, much of that answer comes back to consumer behavior.
 

Despite uneven economic indicators and ongoing concerns in several sectors, consumer spending and retail activity have remained stronger than expected. Dr. Kuehl discusses current retail sales and spending trends, noting that while some data points appear mixed, underlying consumer activity continues to support broader economic stability. The episode also explores which groups of consumers are currently driving growth and why those shifts matter for ASA members and the PHCP-PVF supply chain.
 

Beyond consumer spending, the discussion touches on continued challenges facing manufacturing, construction and transportation, including persistent labor shortages and widening skills gaps. Dr. Kuehl also examines energy trends, oil prices, driving patterns and what current market signals suggest about future demand.
 

The overall takeaway from the episode is clear: even amid ongoing uncertainty, the U.S. consumer continues to play an outsized role in stabilizing the economy, making it increasingly important for distributors and industry leaders to understand how spending patterns and market behavior are evolving.
 

Those broader economic conversations will continue during ASA’s upcoming May Economic Webinar, where Dr. Kuehl and Keith Prather will focus on the potential impacts of continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and what it could mean for global supply chains.
 

The webinar will examine several possible Middle East scenarios and explore how prolonged shipping disruptions could continue to pressure logistics networks, product availability and pricing across the industry. Even if the Strait reopens quickly, supply chains may still require months to fully recover from delays and interruptions.
 

Chris and Keith will provide ASA members with timely insight into what risks may lie ahead and how distributors can prepare to maintain supply chain continuity amid ongoing uncertainty.
 

Join us for the May economic webinar by registering here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RqUiy-jLSBmqSG6I7Wk1ng
 

ASA members can also submit questions for future podcast episodes and economic webinars by emailing Brianna Dovichi at bdovichi@asa.net.