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Wholesale Sales Surge in May as Electrical Products Stay Strong

William Attardi on July 12, 2026

U.S. wholesale sales posted another strong gain in May, led in part by continued strength in electrical products, even as inventory growth slowed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest Monthly Wholesale Trade Report. Electrical wholesalers reported one of the strongest performances among durable goods sectors in May, with sales up 6.2% from April and 37.2% year over year. Inventories increased 22.2% from a year ago, while the inventory-to-sales ratio improved to 0.87 from 0.97 last May, indicating faster inventory turnover. Wholesale Sales Surge in May as Electrical Products Stay Strong – tEDmag

Inside the Electrical Industry’s AI Learning Curve by Tim Kridel

William Attardi on January 26, 2026

As electrical firms ramp up their use of artificial intelligence, some trends are emerging in why, where, how, and for whom. In electrical, AI use cases run the gamut, from producing multiple iterations of a design to creating slide decks to present those design options to a client. A common denominator — and a big part of the business case — is that AI does grunt work that otherwise would tie up highly skilled employees.  Key Takeaways:

  • AI enhances productivity by automating repetitive tasks, allowing professionals to focus on complex, high-value activities.
  • Effective AI use requires skilled humans to interpret results, validate outputs, and ensure compliance with standards and codes.
  • Incremental improvements through AI are prioritized over seeking a ‘silver bullet’ solution, fostering continuous enhancement.
  • Cybersecurity considerations are critical when deploying AI tools, with a focus on secure design and safeguarding proprietary information.

How Electrical Firms Are Using AI in Design and Construction | EC&M

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.