ArvinMeritor Trims Earnings Estimate

Heavy-duty component maker ArvinMeritor said fiscal fourth-quarter earnings may be less than previously forecast by as much as 40 cents a share because of a sluggish economy and charges related to suppliers, Bloomberg reported.

“In North America, we are encountering a weaker than anticipated economic environment in our commercial vehicle systems business group resulting from decreased freight volumes, largely due to the decline in housing construction,” said Jim Donlon, the company’s chief financial officer.

“Our customers expect the housing recession to delay the recovery cycle for North America commercial vehicle production into 2008,” he said in a statement.

In fiscal 2008, the company will likely earn $1.40 to $1.60 a share from continuing operations before special items, Donlon said.