Business

Spoiled for choice before the pandemic, North American shoppers are finding they can’t get everything they want as grocery stores ration in-demand items to safeguard supplies.

Facebook Inc.’s $5.7 billion investment in a unit of India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. creates an e-commerce leviathan to take on Amazon .com and Walmart Inc. in one of the world’s most competitive internet arenas.

The nation’s major ports suffered the full economic impact of the coronavirus in March as global trade practically came to a halt.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, many state transportation construction programs are progressing on schedule and, in some cases, have exceeded timeline expectations.

The trucking industry will play a critical role in the development and implementation of plans to restart the country’s struggling economy, American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear said.

The Senate approved a new $484 billion pandemic relief plan with funds for a tapped-out small business aid program, and aid for coronavirus testing and overwhelmed hospitals. A House vote is expected as soon as April 23.

Fleet operations have had to be nimble to navigate amid disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus, particularly in hard-hit cities such as New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and Detroit.

Two groups integral to the distribution of fuel in the country called on Congress to include them in a proposal that would provide essential personnel $25,000 in compensation during the pandemic.

Oil ministers from the OPEC+ coalition held an unscheduled conference call on April 21 to discuss the collapse in crude prices, though a closing statement signaled they didn’t settle on any new policy measures.

A recovery in demand for flights within China is stuck at about 45% of pre-coronavirus levels as people continue to shun leisure trips after the outbreak.