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The national average retail price of diesel fuel rose 0.4 cent to $3.039 a gallon last week, the Department of Energy reported, and analysts were predicting additional increases as crude oil prices neared an un-precedented $90 a barrel.

The consumer price index rose 0.3% in September, led by increases in food and fuel, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

The average retail price of diesel fuel fell 1.3 cents last week to $3.035 a gallon, the first decline after five straight increases, the Department of Energy said.

Vermont leaders expressed dismay at an effort by the Bush administration to oppose new state rules designed to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, amid growing concern the rules will be rejected by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Associated Press reported.

The Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference said it strongly opposes an “abhorrent” clean-air plan proposed by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. and will sue to block the program if the ports try to implement it, the IMCC told the Federal Maritime Commission.

Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air cargo industry, said late Wednesday it expects to earn 35 cents 37 cents for the third quarter, down from a year ago.

BAX Global said it is expanding its overnight distribution capabilities between the United States, Mexico and Canada by adding an additional air cargo flight into Mexico, starting next Monday.

The California Air Resources Board, in a September staff report, proposed to require Class 8 trucks to be outfitted with fuel-efficiency technologies such as cab fairings, skirts, low-rolling-resistance tires and automatic tire-inflation systems by 2010.