Business

U.S. rail intermodal traffic increased 4.5% in the week ended Dec. 13 compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Crude oil dropped to the lowest level in more than five years Dec. 18 on concern a supply glut will worsen.

Protracted labor talks at the busiest U.S. container ports are leading to delayed deliveries to some retailers, and may result in a lot of gift cards under Christmas trees in place of absent presents, FedEx Corp. said.

U.S. electricity costs are poised to reach the highest level since 1999 because railroads are too clogged to deliver enough coal to power plants.

A federal panel in in Charleston, South Carolina, has approved a request by Navistar to consolidate and transfer to a federal court in Chicago 13 of 14 defective engine lawsuits filed against the truck maker in eight separate jurisdictions.

Daimler AG, the world’s biggest truck maker, will increase provisions for a possible European Union antitrust fine by 600 million euros ($739 million) following a preliminary ruling by the regulator.

An index of leading economic indicators increased 0.6% in November, the New York-based Conference Board said Dec. 18.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration updated its website on Dec. 17 to reflect the recent suspension of parts of its hours of service rule, a change that took effect when President Obama signed a $1 trillion bill into law Dec. 16.