News in brief

Barge traffic at port in LR flat in October

Barge activity at the Port of Little Rock remained flat in October compared with the same month in 2019, according to port data.

The port's docks saw 22 barges with more than 33,000 net tons of cargo loaded or unloaded last month. In October 2019, the port worked an identical number of barges and handled slightly more cargo, 34,000 tons.

Through the first 10 months of 2020, the port worked 308 barges and handled 468,000 tons of cargo. Those figures represent declines exceeding 30% from the same period last year when the port saw 451 barges and handled 689,000 tons of cargo.

Bryan Day, the port's executive director, has blamed the lack of activity on the coronavirus pandemic. He said in the port's monthly newsletter that he expects similar dock activity in November.

"The ongoing pandemic continues to suppress river and rail operations at the Port of Little Rock from previous years, but business remains consistent and stable," Day wrote. "We expect 2020 to continue to remain steady, and we expect improvement in the new year."

-- Noel Oman

Warehouse 'pop-ups' to aid Walmart online

Walmart Inc. is equipping some regional distribution centers to fulfill online orders as it gears up for expected increased demand during the Christmas shopping season.

Greg Smith, executive vice president of supply chain for Walmart's U.S. division, said in a news release that the company is creating space in 42 of its regional distribution centers for what it calls "pop-up e-commerce distribution centers."

The regional warehouses normally ship pallets of goods to stores rather than sending items directly to customers' homes, Smith said. But with new or enhanced technology in its supply chain, he said, the facilities can now also fulfill orders placed online.

"The flexibility to pop up an eDC anytime our supply chain network experiences peak demand allows us to deliver for our customers when they need us the most," Smith said.

Online sales have surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Walmart's e-commerce business nearly doubled during the second quarter.

According to the National Retail Federation's annual Christmas shopping survey, 60% of consumers said they'll buy gifts and decor online this year.

Index soars 12.33, closes at 460.17

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, closed Friday at 460.17, up 12.33.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

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