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ARLINGTON, Va. — The new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee told directors of American Trucking Associations last week that he supported creation of federal financial incentives to help fleets purchase new, cleaner-burning diesel engines and auxiliary power units.

ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations said last week it would become more vocal in its support for increased fuel efficiency in heavy trucks and ratified an agreement with the biodiesel industry to promote that fuel at the federal level.

Most major truck engine manufacturers said they are now testing prototypes of engines developed to meet the federal government’s 2010 diesel engine emission standards. Two of them said they will have engines available for testing next year.

For anyone who operates a commercial truck, there is little doubt about the importance of the vehicle’s fuel efficiency — especially in this era of historically high diesel and gasoline prices.

U.S. consumer confidence fell this month from a two-year high in January, according to the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

New housing starts plunged 14.3% in January to their lowest level in 10 years, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. reported Friday it lost $358 million in the fourth quarter due to a strike at 16 of its plants that reduced sales.

The producer price index fell 0.6% in January, but the “core” rate rose, the Labor Department reported Friday.

A thick layer of ice kept parts of major highways closed in Pennsylvania Friday morning, a day after hundreds of drivers became stranded on a hilly stretch of Interstate 78 that was hit by this week’s big snow and ice storm, the Associated Press reported.