Today’s Top Headlines: American Energy Surges, While French Fries Face Shortage

 

Here are the top stories you need to know right now in the world of B2B.

Let’s start with big news out of the energy industry. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. in September accomplished something it has not done since at least 1949.

The U.S. recorded its first full month as a net exporter of crude oil and petroleum products since the government began keeping records.

According to the EIA, the U.S. exported 89,000 barrels a day more than it imported during the month.

While oil is booming, a popular food is heading in the other direction. According to a Bloomberg News report, a French fry shortage may be coming.

Cold, wet weather this fall has led to smaller potatoes, and a domestic output drop of 6.1 percent, according to the US Department of Agriculture. That would be the largest single-year drop since 2010. Potato processors will feel the pinch because they tend to work with longer spuds.

Finally, on the trade show circuit, it is Groundwater Week in Las Vegas. From December 3rd through the 5th, groundwater industry professionals will get together to see the latest in water use and management.

One of this year’s highlights will be a speech from Dr. John Doherty, author of PEST, a software package used for groundwater model calibration and uncertainty analysis. He’ll speak on the importance and challenges in groundwater modeling.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

private equity
Alts Innovators: UT Austin’s Dr. Ken Wiles on Private Equity
December 15, 2025

Private equity is entering a period of adjustment after decades of expansion fueled by falling interest rates and abundant capital. That long-running tailwind reversed beginning in 2022, when interest rates rose sharply, disrupting deal activity, slowing exits, and bringing renewed attention to a long-standing vulnerability in private markets: liquidity. Industry reports have highlighted softer fundraising,…

Read More
SPD
Getting SPD Teams to the Table: Why Sterile Processing Deserves a Central Role in Surgical Planning and Operations
December 15, 2025

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) remain the backbone of safe surgical care, yet across the country, they’re still routinely left out of early decision-making around products, construction, staffing, and case planning. As hospitals juggle tighter margins, higher patient acuity, and growing procedural demands, the consequences of excluding SPD voices become unmistakably real—showing up in daily…

Read More
WireXpert
WireXpert MP Wire Mapping Overview
December 13, 2025

In modern network installations, speed alone isn’t enough—precision is what keeps systems reliable and downtime low. Tools like the WireXpert MP cable certifier reflect how far copper cable diagnostics have evolved, moving beyond simple pass-or-fail testing into actionable insight. By running a full 500 MHz sweep on a Category 6A link, technicians can…

Read More
Why Connectivity Has Become the Cornerstone of Modern Industrial Automation
December 11, 2025

Industrial automation is in the middle of a profound shift, as manufacturers push beyond basic control toward fully connected, data-driven operations that bridge the plant floor and the enterprise. What began years ago as early experiments in digital transformation—simply getting PLC data into IT systems—has now accelerated into a critical business imperative fueled by…

Read More