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Truckload carrier Schneider National said Thursday it received a business license from the Chinese government to begin trucking and logistics operations in that country.

Manufacturing levels in the Philadelphia area fell back to a near-flat level this month following a big jump in January, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

Diesel engine manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. plans to repurchase $7.5 billion of its stock in the five years, its fourth buyback since 1995, the company said Thursday.

The big snow storm that paralyzed parts of the Midwest Wednesday shut down traffic on Interstate 78 for about 50 miles near the junction with Interstate 81 in Lebanon County, Pa., the Allentown Morning Call reported Thursday on its Web site.

Tire maker Michelin said Thursday it earned about $750 million or $5.20 a share in 2006, down from $1.17 billion or $8.04 in 2005.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. reported a fourth-quarter loss of $5 million or 16 cents a share, compared with earning $20 million or 55 cents a year earlier.

U.S. retail sales were unchanged in January following a 1.2% gain in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

In addition to providing billions of dollars for congestion relief, the Department of Transportation’s $67 billion fiscal 2008 budget proposal included millions of dollars for commercial vehicle safety.

U.S. business inventories were unchanged in December, and business sales rose 1.4%, the biggest gain since May, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.