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U.S. manufacturing levels improved in May but continued to show contraction, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.

Construction spending fell for a second straight month in April, the Commerce Department said Monday.

Truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises said its Xpress Global Systems subsidiary finalized its purchase of Pinner Transportation. Terms were not released.

Executives with several software firms said their businesses are awash with inquiries from carriers seeking to streamline operations as they struggle with record fuel prices and sluggish freight demand.

U.S. diesel prices roared past gasoline in September, reversing the historic pattern because rising demand for diesel, coupled with the weak dollar, has led refiners to export the fuel even as their use of refinery capacity is at a four-year low, according to market experts.

NEW YORK — U.S. freight carriers are reaping benefits from the weaker dollar as export shipments climb within North America and overseas.

Diesel continued to soar last week, jumping 22.6 cents to put the national average retail price at an unprecedented $4.723 a gallon, according to the Department of Energy.

The <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />U.S. trade deficit expanded in April for the second straight month following seven declines, as exports dropped to the lowest level in almost three years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Emissions from cargo ships would be reduced under legislation that passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Associated Press reported.

U.S. consumer confidence fell to a 28-year low in May, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.