Government

LAS VEGAS — Growing concern about global warming will help trucking’s push for longer and heavier vehicle limits, an issue that may be gaining “buoyancy” in Congress, ATA President Bill Graves said recently.

The average retail price of diesel fuel fell 1.3 cents last week to $3.035 a gallon, the first decline after five straight increases, the Department of Energy said.

Retail sales rose 0.6% in September, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Consumer confidence declined this month, according to a preliminary monthly report by the University of Michigan, released Friday.

Business inventories rose just 0.1% in August, while sales fell 0.4%, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Prices paid to U.S. producers rose 1.1% in September, the Labor Department said Friday.

Chrysler LLC and the United Auto Workers union ended a brief strike after agreeing on a contract similar to one signed recently between the UAW and General Motors Corp., Bloomberg reported.

Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air cargo industry, said late Wednesday it expects to earn 35 cents 37 cents for the third quarter, down from a year ago.

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed by 2.4% in August as exports rose to a record for a sixth straight month, the Commerce Department said Friday.

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