Philadelphia Manufacturing Index Shrinks

Manufacturing levels in the Philadelphia region contracted this month at the fastest pace in 18 years, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

Leading Economic Indicators Fall 0.8%

An index of leading economic indicators declined in October for the third time in four months, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Federal Bailout of U.S. Automakers May Be in Jeopardy

U.S. lawmakers were deadlocked on a plan to bail out the U.S. “big three” automakers, leaving General Motors Corp. with the prospect of running out of cash before a new Congress is sworn in next year, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Jobless Claims Continue to Climb

First-time unemployment claims rose to the highest level in 16 years last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Highway Trust Fund Declines by $3 Billion, DOT Says

The federal highway trust fund took in $3 billion less in fiscal year 2008, as Americans drove 90 billion miles fewer miles over an 11-month period compared with a year ago, the Department of Transportation said late Wednesday.

Opinion: Factoring Helps, Not Hurts, Trucking Industry

This is a response to the article “Cash-Strapped Carriers Resort to Quick Pay Plans, Factoring” (10-13, p. 55). I would like to set the story straight.

DHL to End U.S. Parcel Service After 5 Years, Nearly $10 Bln.

Deutsche Post, owner of DHL Express, said it would close the parcel carrier’s U.S. operations after an unsuccessful five-year, $10 billion attempt to crack into a $61.1 billion market dominated by UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp.

Scam Artists Hit Brokers, Fleets

Logistics executive Paul Lueck, a 27-year veteran of the transportation business, thought he’d seen it all before the silver-tongued con man from what turned out to be a fictitious Jonesboro, Ark., trucking company came calling last summer.

TT Logistics 50: Shippers, Carriers Seek Solutions to Logistics Challenges

Logistics companies face significant new challenges as both shippers and carriers look for ways to cope with financial turmoil, volatile fuel costs and slumping demand for goods and services.

Diesel Hits 14-Month Low

The U.S. average retail diesel price dropped 14.4 cents to $2.944 a gallon last week, falling below $3 for the first time in 14 months, and is expected to drop even further next year, the U.S. Department of Energy said.