91ÊÓƵ

Continued frigid temperatures across the Plains states, Midwest and East Coast are causing problems and hazards on roadways, and snow was forecast in some regions of the Midwest for Tuesday, news services reported.

The average price of retail diesel fuel rose 2.2 cents to $2.435 a gallon, marking the first increase in eight weeks, the Department of Energy said late Monday.

Diesel prices will average $2.59 this year, down from $2.705 last year and 7 cents below an earlier forecast, the Department of Energy said Tuesday.

Auto hauler Allied Holdings filed a motion Friday asking that an Atlanta bankruptcy court void the contract between the Teamsters union and Allied and allow the company to implement the wage, benefits and work-rule concessions it has been seeking, the Teamsters said.

The economy’s service sector growth improved last month, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.

UPS Inc. said Monday it has ordered 27 new Boeing jets to support its growing package business while providing broad options for the management of its air fleet.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it has increased enforcement of its fuel-pump labeling rule after finding that the majority of retail diesel pumps it tested did not display ultra-low-sulfur-diesel labels, even though they were dispensing ULSD.

FedEx Corp. said Monday it has integrated its 2006 acquisition of Watkins Motor Lines into its less-than-truckload network in the United States and Canada.

President Bush will include provisions to help ease traffic congestion in his budget blueprint Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Factory orders jumped 2.4% in December on higher demand for business equipment, motor vehicles and aircraft, the Commerce Department said Friday.