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The average price of regular gasoline at U.S. pumps slid to the lowest level in almost four years, dropping 18.18 cents in the two weeks ended Oct. 24 to $3.076 a gallon, according to Lundberg Survey Inc.

Purchases of new houses in the U.S. rose in September, and revisions showed the magnitude of the unfolding recovery was more modest.

Contract negotiations between West Coast port operators and dockworkers are progressing toward a tentative agreement in November, the head of the Port of Los Angeles said.

Caterpillar Inc., the largest construction equipment maker, raised its full-year earnings forecast and said sales may gain in 2015 on an improvement in global economic growth.

The index of U.S. leading indicators accelerated in September, signaling the world’s largest economy will keep expanding into 2015.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits over the past month than at any time in 14 years as an improving economy prompted employers to hold on to staff.

The consumer-price index climbed 0.1% after decreasing 0.2% in August, a Labor Department report showed in Washington.

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., foiled in a bid to merge with CSX Corp., reported third-quarter profit that missed analysts’ estimates as the carrier spent more on stock-based compensation.

Secret changes by Trinity Industries Inc. to its guardrail systems were found by a jury to have cheated the U.S. government, exposing the company to $1 billion in liability and sending shares plummeting as states question the safety of the product.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose in September to the highest level in a year, adding to signs that residential real estate will be a plus for the economy.