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U.S. jobless claims fell by 4,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Jan. 8.

More Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits for the first time in five weeks, displaying the typical year-end holiday swings that make the data difficult to interpret.

West Coast dockworkers asked that major employers on the board of the Pacific Maritime Association join in contract negotiations that have stretched over seven months.

When Ford Motor Co. unleashes an ad blitz for its new F-150 during college football bowl games Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, it will emphasize how much the aluminum-bodied pickup can haul and tow. There will be no mention of fuel-economy gains that Ford says are one of the truck’s key attributes.

The Senate has passed the $1 trillion federal spending bill that includes the suspension of a key HOS restart provision.

West Texas Intermediate oil dropped below $60 a barrel for the first time since July 2009 as Saudi Arabia questioned the need to cut output, signaling its priority is defending market share. Brent fell to a five-year low.

The trade deficit was little changed in October as an improving U.S. economy caused imports to climb to a record while exports also rose.

UTi Worldwide Inc. and DSV A/S have ended talks after news of DSV’s potential acquisition sent UTi’s shares surging.