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House and Senate transportation leaders said they will vote next week on a final water policy bill that approves myriad improvements to ports nationwide.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved a six-year, $265 billion highway reauthorization bill that makes freight a core element within the federal highway program.

A survey by the National Biodiesel Board found that nearly 80% of biodiesel producers have scaled back production this year, and more than half have idled production, due in part to what it called a “weak” renewable fuel standard proposal in Washington.

Industrial production decreased 0.6% in April after a 0.9% gain the prior month that was larger than previously reported, the Federal Reserve said May 15.

Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region declined in May, the Federal Reserve Bank in that district said May 15.

The consumer price index rose 0.3% in April, the biggest increase in 10 months, the Labor Department reported May 15.

Manufacturing activity in the New York region increased in May, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said.

Jobless claims dropped by 24,000 to 297,000 in the week ended May 10, the least since May 2007, the Labor Department reported.

President Obama pressed for larger federal investments for infrastructure and announced the administration would streamline the permitting process for new roads, bridges and other major infrastructure projects.