U.S. regulators say Amazon’s efforts to control prices for online sales were built on an algorithm code-named “Project Nessie.” The algorithm helped Amazon improve its profit on items across shopping categories, and because of the power the company has in e-commerce, led competitors to raise their prices. The WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports that if competitors didn’t bring prices to Amazon’s level, the algorithm—which is no longer in use—automatically returned the item to its normal price point. The algorithm helped Amazon recoup money and improve margins, according to redacted portions of the federal monopoly lawsuit against the company. Project Nessie is one of a number of instances where the Federal Trade Commission complaint contends that Amazon’s monopoly power had broad impacts on raising consumer prices across retail. A person familiar with the matter says Amazon made more than $1 billion in revenue through use of the algorithm.

• U.K. online fast-fashion retailer Boohoo slashed its annual sales and profit forecasts. (Financial Times)

The latest threats from smuggling and theft in the aviation industry are coming from inside the airport. Authorities say they have seen a spate of criminal activity since the recovery in air travel that has involved airport insiders—ground crew, baggage handlers and others with access to secure areas of air facilities. The WSJ’s Benjamin Katz reports the sector is wrestling with the growing threat of criminal gangs recruiting airport workers as the business tries to ramp up hiring and address labor shortfalls in ground operations. A United Nations panel this year listed the risk posed by airport workers colluding with criminal groups as one of civil aviation’s biggest security concerns. Many incidents involve smuggling narcotics, with insiders helping shipments evade security checks. But in one case, a cargo handler in Miami was arrested after allegedly stealing $1.2 million worth of Samsung cellphones from a DHL freight container.

• CargoNet says theft of freight shipments in North America jumped 57% in the second quarter from the year before. (Commercial Carrier Journal)

Rivian Automotive is trying to get the supply chain behind its new electric pickup truck up to speed, but the financial equation is lagging. The upstart manufacturer sells its pickups for over $80,000 on average. But the WSJ’s Sean McLain reports Rivian lost about $33,000 on every edition that it sold in the second quarter because of the costly features it added to compete with established automakers. It shows the difficult task Rivian faces as it tries to scale up an operation that also has made electric delivery vans for Amazon. The company in two years has blown through half of the $18 billion in cash it amassed as investors piled into the business. That is in part because it struggled to master the nuts and bolts of manufacturing. Rivian’s factory is still operating at less than one-third of its build capacity, keeping output and revenues in a lower gear.

• Ford and General Motors laid off another 500 workers as parts assembly plants went dark under the United Auto Workers' strike. (WSJ)
• Automakers notched double-digit gains in U.S. sales in the third quarter. (WSJ)

The number of job openings in the U.S. jumped sharply at the end of August. (WSJ)

Loop, a startup provider of logistics company payment systems, raised $35 million in a funding round led by J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners and Index Ventures. (WSJ)

U.S. retailers and other parcel delivery customers for the first time in more than four years are easily winning discounts in negotiations with United Parcel Service and FedEx. (Reuters)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's new chip plant in Japan is moving rapidly toward completion. (Nikkei Asia)

The International Air Transport Association says global air cargo demand expanded in August for the first time in 19 months. (Air Cargo News)

The former CEO of Lordstown Motors bought assets of the bankrupt electric-vehicle maker for $10 million. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

BMW is insourcing more of its production and logistics at its Spartanburg, S.C., auto assembly plant. (Automotive Logistics) 

U.S. regulators ruled in Mediterranean Shipping’s favor in a dispute with a shipper over detention charges. (Splash 247)

A group of container lines sold their jointly-held South Atlantic chassis provider to Oaktree Capital Management. (Journal of Commerce)

Refrigerated specialist Lineage Logistics acquired eight facilities and e-commerce assets of Burris Logistics. (Undercurrent News)

Freight broker FST Logistics acquired fellow Ohio-based business Hyway Trucking. (Business Journals)

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

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @bylizyoung and @pdberger. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on X at @WSJLogistics.