Government

U.S. consumer confidence fell this month following fuel price increases and a hitch in the stock market, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

Consumer prices rose 0.4% in February, the Labor Department said Friday.

A funny thing happened just as some fleets were discussing reducing their fuel surcharges: Prices went flying again. Since Jan. 26, after five straight weekly increases, the average retail price of diesel is $2.626 a gallon, and climbing.

The producer price index rose 1.3% in February, while the “core” rate rose by just 0.4%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Manufacturing growth in New York state fell off sharply this month, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Thursday.

The House of Representatives approved a bill that would make it easier for labor unions to organize employees, but President Bush said he would veto the measure if it passed the Senate.

The U.S. Transportation Department’s transportation services index fell 0.6% in January following a one-month increase in December, DOT said Wednesday.

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico jumped 8.9% last year over 2005 levels, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. There is a lot more traffic and a lot more going on behind the wheel other than turning it, with cellphones, Global Positioning System and onboard computers.