Business

The Senate passed an energy bill late Thursday that would boost fuel efficiency for new automobile fleets to 35 mpg by 2020, increase energy efficiency standards and set a mandate for more use of ethanol and other biofuels, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Industrial production rose 0.5% in November, the Federal Reserve said Friday.

The consumer price index jumped 0.8% in November, led by increases in energy costs, the Labor Department said Friday.

Rail carload traffic rose but intermodal levels fell for the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

U.S. railroads and trucking companies may see weak demand at least through the first half of next year, according to a report from Fitch Ratings, Bloomberg reported.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation asking the agency to deny the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s request to toll Interstate 80.

Business inventories rose 0.1% in October, while sales jumped 0.7% for second straight month, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Retail sales rose 1.2% in November, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Prices paid to U.S. producers jumped 3.2% in November — the fastest pace in 34 years, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Initial jobless claims fell by 7,000 last week to 333,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.