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Natural gas producers are scaling back output, boosting historically low prices, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Gasoline’s national average pump price fell 7 cents in the past two weeks to $3.85 a gallon, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of filling stations released Sunday.

The latest quarterly study of trucking fleet failures paints a more positive picture than we would have expected in years past, considering the high level of fuel prices.

With two major developments in the fuel-supply situation in the Northeast last week, their effects on diesel prices and availability was unclear.

CINCINNATI — There is strong interest among corporate fleet executives in converting from diesel-powered trucks to those that run on compressed and liquefied natural gas as more fueling stations are built and more powerful engines are available, according to panelists at an industry meeting here last week.

WENDOVER, Utah — A Volvo Group-manufactured hybrid truck set two preliminary world speed records last month, but the company’s North American brand has no plans to use that technology in trucks, instead focusing its efforts on alternative fuels.

YRC Worldwide Inc. and Arkansas Best Corp.’s less-than-truckload unit reported losses in the first quarter, although three other major carriers reported marked improvement during the period.

Retail diesel prices retreated for the third consecutive week, dipping 1.2 cents to put the national average at $4.073 a gallon, the U.S. Department of Energy reported.

Two big deals affecting the refinery of crude oil in the Northeast were announced this week: Delta Air Lines will buy a Philadelphia area refinery and Sunoco Inc. is being sold for $5.3 billion.