This month’s Global Freight Outlook webinar took a data-driven look at the latest in the international ocean and air freight markets. We focused on container trends – the extended transpac peak season, the elevated Asia – Europe rate floor, and Red Sea returns, Panama Canal restrictions, trade war developments, post the Trump-Xi summit, and air cargo peak season projections.

Watch the full recording and read key takeaways below:

Key Takeaways:

- Hormuz attacks escalating, but container impact unchanged: Iran has intensified attacks partly in response to crude volumes recovering via alternative channels, but Gulf-bound containers continue rerouting. Bunker fuel prices have kept climbing despite reports of recovering Middle East crude exports.

- Red Sea return advancing but Houthi–Saudi escalation adds new risk: All the container alliances plus MSC will send some vessels via the Red Sea by the end of the month, but the sharp Houthi–Saudi escalation in recent days, including missile strikes on Riyadh, raises the risk of renewed container vessel attacks that could reverse this progress.

- Sticky congestion may be setting a higher rate floor: Typhoon-driven backlogs in the Far East persist, with congestion at key N. Europe hubs lingering too. The backups could take months to unwind completely and, alongside elevated fuel costs, could keep some upward pressure on rates even before the pre-Lunar New Year rush begins.

- East-west container lanes post-peak, as Asia – Europe enters contract season: Transpacific rates are showing signs of easing with peak demand finally easing post-Golden Week. Asia – Europe have fallen steadily since mid-July as peak demand cooled, but carriers may seek to push rates up as tendering season gets underway.

- Saudi air cargo disruption localized; e-commerce slowing, AI hardware growing: as Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport are disrupting Saudi air cargo but broader market impact is so far limited. There are more signs of Chinese air e-commerce exports falling while AI-related data center hardware has emerged as a significant Asia – N. America demand driver. Overall, rates remain elevated on strong demand and high fuel costs, setting the baseline from which rates will likely climb during the Q4 peak season stretch.

Your Expert Host

Judah Levine

Head of Research, Freightos Group

Judah is an experienced market research manager, using data-driven analytics to deliver market-based insights. Judah produces the Freightos Group’s FBX Weekly Freight Update and other research on what’s happening in the industry from shipper behaviors to the latest in logistics technology and digitization.

Weekly highlights

Ocean rates – Freightos Baltic Index

- Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) decreased 1%.

- Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly) stayed level.

- Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) decreased 3%.

- Asia-Mediterranean prices (FBX13 Weekly) decreased 2%.

Air rates – Freightos Air Index

- China – N. America weekly prices decreased 18%.

- China – N. Europe weekly prices decreased 7%.

- N. Europe – N. America weekly prices increased 1%.

Analysis

Some recent estimations have Middle East crude oil exports – via the Strait of Hormuz and alternatives – approaching pre-war levels, with crude prices easing moderately. For now though, bunker prices remain about level with the last few weeks, as increased crude volumes, if sustained, may take time to translate into lower prices for refined products.

Increased Saudi crude flows via the southern Red Sea account for part of this volume recovery, with Saudi-backed forces attempting to recapture areas on the Yemeni coast of the Bab el Mandeb Strait recently seized by the Houthis. Even with elevated tension in the region container carriers continue to gradually increase Red Sea traffic, with the Premier Alliance – the last holdout among the three alliances and MSC – announcing some services will resume Red Sea transits this month.

The increase in effective capacity from more vessels taking the shorter route is likely one contributor to container rates sliding since mid-July on Asia – Europe lanes. Prices dipped 2-3% last week to $3,260/FEU to N. Europe and $3,555/FEU to the Mediterranean, with rates level so far this week over the Golden Week holiday as carriers have blanked sailings during this low demand stretch.

The sharper increase in Red Sea sailings for Asia – Mediterranean services, as well as continued challenges with congestion at some N. Europe hubs for Asia – N. Europe volumes, may explain why rates to the Mediterranean – even as Far East congestion, though improving, continues to tie up capacity – have slid back to pre-peak season levels. Asia – N. Europe prices meanwhile, remain about $400/FEU higher than back in mid-May.

Transpacific container rates decreased 3% to the West Coast last week to $8,322/FEU while East Coast prices were level at $9,600/FEU. Increased blanked sailing over the Golden Week period may help keep prices stable in the near term. Increases in blanked sailings as well as backlogs from nearly three months of weather-related disruptions at major ports in China may keep the transpacific rate floor quite elevated even as we enter what is normally a couple months of low demand post-peak season and pre-Lunar New Year rush.

In air cargo, more recent analyses confirm data center components are a significant driver of global demand growth even as e-commerce volumes – though still significant – contract in some major markets. The Freightos Air Index shows Far East/China rates cooling more than 15% to N. America last week to $5.60/kg and easing 7% to Europe to $3.83/kg as demand eases over Golden Week.

Freightos Terminal™: Real-time pricing dashboards to benchmark rates and track market trends.

Procure™: Streamlined procurement and cost savings with digital rate management and automated workflows.

Rate, Book, & Manage™: Real-time rate comparison, instant booking, and easy tracking at every shipment stage.

Weekly highlights

Ocean rates – Freightos Baltic Index

- Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) decreased 2%.

- Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly) stayed level.

- Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) stayed level.

- Asia-Mediterranean prices (FBX13 Weekly) increased 7%.

Air rates – Freightos Air Index

- China – N. America weekly prices increased 3%.

- China – N. Europe weekly prices decreased 7%.

- N. Europe – N. America weekly prices increased 2%.

Analysis

Multiple Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport since late last week mark another serious escalation of the Saudi – Houthi conflict. Saudi Arabia has promised retaliation for the deadly strikes which have shut down airport operations in Riyadh. Interceptions at the airport in Dammam and attacks on other airports have led to disruptions and cancellations at other hubs as well.

The Houthis sought to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked traffic in July, attacking several vessels into August after nearly nine months of quiet. The current escalation may increase the likelihood of renewed Red Sea strikes.

Container carriers have nonetheless gradually increased Asia – Europe Red Sea transits since June, which is one factor – with a post-peak season slide in demand the bigger factor – to uninterrupted spot rate decreases on these lanes since July.

Shippers and carriers on these trades are now entering tendering season for 2027’s annual ocean contracts. This time last year carriers reduced capacity and pushed through a series of Q4 GRIs to raise the benchmark around which long term negotiations were based. Some carriers have already announced October rate increases and Asia – Mediterranean prices increased 7% to $3,800/FEU last week. But even with the rate decreases since July, prices are still quite elevated at more than $3,000/FEU on both lanes and are about 70% higher than they were last year, working in carriers’ favor even without additional increases.

But current rate levels are partially being supported by lingering congestion in N. Europe – though a strike at German ports that could have made things worse was recently averted – and in the Far East. Fleet growth through newbuild deliveries next year and the possibility that Red Sea transits will continue to increase effective capacity in 2027 also have some shippers expecting rate levels may ease next year, and hesitant to lock in annual rates at current levels.

On the transpacific, sustained peak season demand, together with Far East congestion, has kept container rates at about peak levels since July, though Far East – US West Coast rates dipped 2% to $8,150/FEU and could signal the start of a downward trend with Golden Week behind us.

The latest National Retail Federation US ocean import volume report projects November arrivals to drop 11% month on month, suggesting that peak season is finally coming to an end and that we may see rates ease until demand pressure from the pre-Lunar New Year rush kicks in late this year or starting in January. Despite the extended peak season, NRF projections would put year totals – which would approach the record set in 2021 – just 1.4% higher than 2025 and up 1.2% from 2024.

The attacks in Saudi Arabia are disrupting air cargo flows in and out of the country for affected airports, with some foreign carriers suspending services. But as Saudi Arabia – unlike some of the other Gulf states – is not a major transhipment hub for the international air cargo market, the closures may not be felt more broadly.

There are more indications of air cargo freighter capacity shifting away from Asia – Europe trades as e-commerce volumes slump, and toward lanes with stronger growth like AI-fueled transpacific. Elevated fuel costs and overall strong global volume growth have the Freightos Air Index global benchmark rate up 33% year on year and 29% higher than levels before the Strait of Hormuz closure.

South East Asia – N. America rates are 40% higher than last year and pre-war, reflecting the data center volume growth as a component of the global rate. China – Europe prices meanwhile dipped to $3.58/kg last week, down 9% compared to a year ago and up just 4% compared to before the war, suggesting that even with capacity shifts, the drop in e-commerce volumes may be dragging down rates for this lane.

Freightos Terminal™: Real-time pricing dashboards to benchmark rates and track market trends.

Procure™: Streamlined procurement and cost savings with digital rate management and automated workflows.

Rate, Book, & Manage™: Real-time rate comparison, instant booking, and easy tracking at every shipment stage.

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) resulting from allegations that Barclays may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So what: If you purchased Barclays securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=23523 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On February 27, 2026, Reuters published an article entitled "Wall Street hit by UK mortgage lender collapse, raising fears of more credit 'cockroaches.'" The article stated that lenders were "rocked by the implosion of little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd ["MFS"], fuelling concerns about wider losses among banks and reviving warnings of more "cockroaches" in the booming private credit industry." It further stated that another publication "reported Barclays has a 600 million pound ($809.70 million) exposure to MFS."

On this news, Barclays American Depositary Shares ("ADS") fell 3.99% on February 27, 2026, and 2.3% on March 2, 2026.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

     Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

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Restaurants play a central role in Americans’ daily lives, but in an increasingly competitive landscape, standing out has never been more important.

YouGov’s latest report, Best Bites 2026: U.S. restaurant brand rankings, explores how restaurant brands are performing across the U.S.

Fast food is a regular part of American life

Fast food remains deeply embedded in everyday behavior. Two in three Americans purchase food or drinks from fast food restaurants at least once a month (70%), while 30% eat it at least once a week.

This demand is driven by a younger, economically active audience. Over half (51%) of weekly fast food diners are under 45, and 49% fall into middle-income households.

When it comes to choosing where to eat, practical factors still dominate. Value and discount menus are the biggest drivers of visits, followed by a clean dining environment.

Five Guys, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell stand out by category

While overall rankings matter, consumers also strongly associate certain brands with doing specific foods best.

Among burger chains, Five Guys leads, with 15.5% of Americans naming it as the best for burgers, just ahead of Burger King (15.0%) and In-N-Out Burger (12.1%).

In pizza, Pizza Hut (19.1%) and Domino’s (17.1%) emerge as category leaders. Meanwhile, Taco Bell dominates in tacos and burritos, with 30.3% of Americans naming it the best — nearly 10 points ahead of Chipotle.

Other categories show similarly strong associations, with Chick-fil-A leading in chicken and McDonald’s standing out for fries.

Explore the full rankings

These highlights are just a snapshot of YouGov’s Best Bites U.S. restaurant rankings report.

Download the full report to explore:

- The most considered fast food, casual dining, and specialty brands

- Rankings by quality and value

- The brands Americans believe do specific foods best

- Profiles of weekly fast food diners and their habits

- Differences in preferences by age and gender

2 min read time

Featured Stories

2026 Five Guys Games Reaches Climax with $100K on the Line

Every two years, a frenzy builds at Five Guys with the best crew members battling it out for $100K and ultimate bragging rights.

Every couple of years, a frenzy builds at Five Guys with the best – and fastest – crew members battling it out to win the top prize and ultimate bragging rights.

The first-place winner takes home $100,000. Second place gets $50,000. And all finalists receive a minimum $10,000.

Welcome to the Five Guys Games.

Born in 2013, the games began as an idea by the Murrell family to reward their hardworking store crew members. The competition has since evolved into a global phenomenon among the chain’s 50,000 employees, who compete for speed, skill and accuracy in three events: the cheese stack race, QC wrapping race and potato race.

Open to any crew member, manager or General Manager, the competition draws employees who train year-round to compete in store, regional and semifinal rounds on the path toward the $100K grand prize.

On May 13, our eight finalists will go head-to-head in all three events at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., in what is known as “The Gauntlet.” Only one will emerge as the ultimate grill master.

Learn more about the Five Guys Games at FiveGuys.com/Games. Follow all the action on our official Five Guys Games Instagram account.

4 min read time

Blog

Five Guys Games: Who Will Reign Supreme?

A grand prize of $100,000 is at stake to the fastest and most accurate in three events: the potato race, cheese stack race and QC wrapping race.

Final preparations are underway for the Five Guys Games final, scheduled for May 13 at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The Olympic-style competition began as an idea by the Murrell family to reward their hardworking store crew members. It evolved into a global phenomenon among the chain’s 50,000 employees. Crew members, managers and general managers have been competing in store, regional and semifinal rounds over the last six months.

A grand prize of $100,000 is at stake to the fastest and most accurate in three events: the potato race, cheese stack race and QC wrapping race. The games are judged by the Five Guys Training Team, who watch and time each competitor.

Let’s meet our eight 2026 Five Guys Games finalists:

- Jackson Chimbay | Wallkill, NY

- Chimbay is the man everyone must beat. Chimbay was the 2022 Five Guys Games champion and 2024 runner-up. He’s been to more finals than anyone in the field.

- Jonathan Martinez | Kingston, NY

- Martinez does not stop. At the NY/NJ regional, a blade broke on his second potato. He heard it. He saw it. He kept cutting. Martinez joined Five Guys three years ago at the Poughkeepsie store, commuting an hour each way. He regularly trains with Chimbay.

- Joshua Harvey | Albuquerque, NM

- Harvey is the defending champion, and he knows what it costs to lose. In the 2021 finals, he beat his opponent, but forgot to put a fork back in the container during the QC race. The penalty eliminated him.

- Jose Once | New York, NY

- Once is a 14-year Five Guys veteran and Chimbay’s older brother. Once helped Chimbay get hired at Five Guys. This is Once’s third finals appearance. The brothers regularly train together.

- Peter Le | Derry, NH

- Le was born in Vietnam and moved to New Hampshire at age 10 with his family. Before competitions, he takes days off and drives to New York and New Jersey to train with Chimbay, Once and Martinez.

- Carson Tate | Kingsport, TN

- Tate has been to the finals twice. Both times, he lost in the first round. Tate started with Five Guys at 16 to earn some gas money. Nine years later, he’s still there – now at general manager in Kingsport.

- Enock Akuwure | Liverpool, UK

- Akuwure broke his back a month before the London semifinals. He was attempting a deadlift personal record at the gym. He couldn’t work for two weeks. He found a stretching video on Instagram, watched YouTube tutorials, and started stretching morning and evening. Within a week, he could walk. He made it to London and won the whole thing.

- Aurelien Favreau | Paris, France

- Favreau finished third in the International Semifinals in London. He was just told a few days ago that due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, the second-place finisher from London could not attend the finals. So, Favreau now will compete.

2 min read time

Five Guys Games

Five Guys Games Crowns 2026 World Champion

A battle royale of burger bosses took over The Theater at MGM National Harbor Wednesday night before a packed house.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 14, 2026 — A battle royale of burger bosses took over The Theater at MGM National Harbor Wednesday night before a packed house of Five Guys crew members and employees in the ultimate showdown.

The Five Guys Games finale capped the 40th Anniversary Conference, a two-day event in Maryland celebrating the chain’s milestone birthday on February 17.

At the end of the night, Jonathan Martinez, of Kingston, New York, walked away with the championship belt and a tax-free check for $100,000.

“We’re celebrating the best of the best,” Five Guys Founder Jerry Murrell said. “Our crews are our front line, and they deserve to be in the spotlight.”

Let the Games Begin

Born in 2013, the Five Guys Games began as an idea by the Murrell family to reward hardworking store crew members. Since then, the competition has evolved into a global phenomenon among the chain’s 50,000 employees, who compete for speed, skill and accuracy in three events: the potato race, the cheese race and the dressing/QC race.

Open to any crew member, manager or general manager, the competition draws employees who train year-round to compete in store, regional and semifinal rounds over several months. Eight finalists went head-to-head in all three events on May 13.

For the first time in Five Guys Games history, the competition truly was global. Each finalist received at least $10,000.

The complete list of finalists:

- Jonathan Martinez, Kingston, New York, first place, $100,000

- Jackson Chimbay, Wallkill, New York, second place, $50,000

- Peter Le, Derry, New Hampshire, third place, $25,000

- Joshua Harvey, Albuquerque, New Mexico

- Jose Once, Spring Valley, New York

- Carson Tate, Kingsport, Tennessee

- Enock Akuwure, Liverpool, UK

- Aurelien Favreau, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Five Guys Docuseries Streaming This Fall

Five Guys, in collaboration with production studios Words + Pictures and Lost Tribe Creative, has been working on a one-of-a-kind human-interest docuseries that goes behind the counter to follow employees as they compete for one of eight coveted spots in the 2026 Five Guys Games finale.

The series captures the sweat, sacrifice and camaraderie of crew members across the country – and around the world – as they chase a shot at the grand prize.

The series streams this fall.

2 min read time

Blog

This Summer’s Going to be Berry Good

Five Guys is showcasing the goodness of Marion and other blackberry varieties with a new milkshake in stores now through the middle of August.

Did you know there are over 375 species of blackberries? Botanically speaking, of course.

This summer, Five Guys is showcasing the goodness of Marion and other blackberry varieties with a new milkshake in stores now through the middle of August.

We’re talking all the best qualities of blackberries – sweet and tart – hand-spun, thick and worth the trip to your local Five Guys.

Take your blackberry shake to the next level with the following mix-ins: strawberry and/or Oreo (think berry crunch), banana (yes), or peanut butter (PB&J in milkshake form). Or have it your way with any of our free mix-ins.

But Wait, There’s More

We wouldn’t be Five Guys without a little extra.

In approximately 155 locations across DC, Maryland and Virginia, we’re giving away a free, reusable Five Guys tumbler with your purchase of a blackberry shake.

This giveaway is valid for in-store blackberry milkshake purchases only and not valid for online orders or delivery orders, including those placed through third-party platforms.

Tumblers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit one tumbler per transaction, while supplies last. And once they’re gone, they’re gone – stop by early, folks!

We’re always looking for new ways to create memorable experiences for our guests. Visit your local Five Guys and see what’s shakin’.

Ready to try Five Guys blackberry milkshake? Find your nearest Five Guys location and taste why we love it.

Have questions about our blackberry milkshake? Check out our FAQ and nutrition info for more details.

2 min read time

Blog

Five Guys Certified as Great Place To Work

Five Guys earns nine successive Great Place To Work® certification.

Forty years ago, Jerry and Janie Murrell opened a small burger joint in Arlington, Va., with a straightforward mission: make the best burgers and fries possible and take care of the people who swung by. No marketing strategy. No secret sauce. Just good food and genuine hospitality.

What they could not have predicted was cultivating a culture that eventually would earn Five Guys nine successive Great Place To Work® certifications.

We’re grateful. This recognition reflects something real about the corporate employees and company-owned store teams who show up every day with a hunger to deliver the best possible experience for our customers.

Eighty-two percent of Five Guys Enterprises LLC corporate and store employees say Five Guys is a great place to work, compared with 57% of employees at a typical U.S. based company.

Highlights from this year’s survey:

- 91% of employees say they have the equipment and resources to do their job

- 91% believe Five Guys customers would rate our service as excellent

- 87% of employees say they’re treated as a full member of the team regardless of their position

- 87% say when you join Five Guys, you are made to feel welcome

And when employees were asked to describe Five Guys in their own words, the top responses were people, team, fun, family and food.

Here’s to our team. Nine years running – and we’re just getting started.