Amazon’s remarkable growth during the pandemic isn’t slowing down as the American economy edges back toward normalcy. The e-commerce behemoth’s profits more than tripled to a quarterly record $8.1 billion, the WSJ’s Sebastian Herrera reports, and sales jumped 44% to $108 billion, with some $52.9 billion of that coming from its online stores. Amazon’s third-party merchants are also growing, with first-quarter sales of $23.7 billion up 60% from a year ago. The growth is bringing heavier costs. Amazon’s world-wide shipping expenses rose 57% last quarter to $17.2 billion. That comes as the company is investing heavily in expanding its sprawling logistics operations. Those expenses will grow this year Amazon raises wages for more than 500,000 employees by between 50 cents and $3 an hour. That will likely push other logistics providers to raise their pay, marking another way Amazon is influencing its markets.

Auto makers are bracing for the semiconductor supply shortages to last for several more months. The comments from companies including Ford cast new clouds over a crisis that has already stalled global production. The WSJ’s William Boston reports several car manufacturers are signaling uncertainty over how fast stockpiles may recover in the second quarter, and some are taking deeper actions to keep assembly lines moving. Some companies have given priority to production of more profitable models until the chip supply stabilizes, and Chrysler owner Stellantis is reverting to analog speedometers in some models. Recent disruptions in chip production have exacerbated a shortage that began last year, when strong consumer-electronics demand left car makers unable to accelerate chip orders to keep pace with rebounding auto sales. That is hitting supply chains, with automotive shipments on U.S. railroads tumbling nearly 19% since late January, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Supply-chain concerns are weighing on corporate earnings outlooks so far this year. Caterpillar signaled to investors that disruptions ranging from the semiconductor shortage to global shipping issues may make it harder to meet recovering demand this year. The heavy-equipment maker says it has been able to work around the major challenges so far, but the WSJ’s Austen Hufford reports Caterpillar is warning the issues could build as the year progresses. The company is one of many reporting stresses during the first quarter ranging from the availability of raw materials to surging costs for components and transportation. Mattress maker Tempur Sealy says supply constraints are holding back its growth. Household-goods supplier Church & Dwight is raising prices for some of its products after seeing raw materials and transport costs surge during the quarter. CEO Matthew Farrell expects “tight supply and higher input costs” to continue throughout the year.

The U.S. economy expanded at a 6.4% annual rate in the first quarter on robust consumer spending that came as retail trade inventories contracted. (WSJ)

Initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell again to the lowest level since the pandemic began. (WSJ)

China’s manufacturing activity fell more sharply than expected in April, hit in part by semiconductor shortages. (WSJ) 

U.S. air-safety regulators launched an audit into how a Boeing factory tweak led to a safety problem with the 737 MAX. (WSJ)

Airbus is accelerating production after the jet maker swung to a $438 million first-quarter profit. (WSJ) 

Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter net profit rose 46% on strong demand for electronics and appliances. (WSJ)

Several auto makers suspended production in India to shift oxygen from industrial operations to medical use. (Nikkei Asia)

India’s deepening Covid crisis is raising challenges for shipping crew changes as ports bar seafarers on vessels that have called at India. (Lloyd’s List)

The Baltic Dry Index for commodities shipping costs rose past 3,000 points for the first time in more than a decade. (TradeWinds)

Seaborne coal imports in Asia contracted 6.5% in the first quarter. (MarineLink)

Canadian lawmakers approved a measure aimed at ending the strike by Port of Montreal dockworkers. (CBC)

Commodity trader Trafigura closed a $203.5 million private placement tied to sustainability. (BunkerSpot)

Truckload carrier Schneider National raised its outlook after first-quarter profit jumped 25% to $54.8 million on a 10% gain in revenue. (Dow Jones Newswires)

China’s food delivery apps are under fire for worker treatment after a television program showed an undercover government official posing as a Meituan delivery rider. (Financial Times)

U.K. parcel carrier Yodel’s first-quarter volumes rose 59% from a year ago. (Motor Transport)

President Biden nominated former Federal Railroad Administration official Karen Hedlund to the Surface Transportation Board. (Trains)

The Intermodal Association of North America says international container volumes on U.S. railroads rose 14.8% in the first quarter. (Logistics Management)

Amazon is building a large distribution center in Bristol, Va. (Kingston Times News)

Alphabet’s Wing division is testing the use of drones to deliver Girl Scouts cookies. (Associated Press)

Paul Page is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Write to him at paul.page@wsj.com.

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @jensmithWSJ, @CostasParis. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.