91ÊÓƵ

The U.S. trade deficit soared to an all-time high of $665.9 billion in 2004, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Housing starts rose 0.5% in February to a 21-year high, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

As the Bush administration moves more deeply into its second term, federal and state transportation officials and trucking industry administrators still are trying to reach a consensus on how to lessen the possibility that trucks might be used as part of a terrorist attack.

The average price of retail price diesel fuel rose 2.6 cents to $2.194 a gallon, just 1.8 cents off the all-time high, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

Meridian IQ Buys Chinese Logistics Firm • Maddocks Unveils New Fleet-Management Technology • Cargo Transporters to Buy Qualcomm Trailer-Tracking Units • PeopleNet Reports Higher Orders, Revenue for 2004

Target Logistics Inc. said Tuesday it acquired Air Cargo International and Domestic Inc., a freight forwarder and third-party logistics company.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday its manufacturing index rose to 19.6 in March from 19.2 in February.

The Surface Transportation Board ruled that federal law pre-empts parts of a proposed ban of hazardous materials transportation by the District of Columbia.

Business inventories rose 0.9% in January, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that February retail sales rose 0.5%. Excluding automobiles, retail sales rose 0.4%, the department said.