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A few stories in this edition of Transport Topics illustrate quite well the current state of the national economy.

Kansas City Southern said it earned $51.8 million, or 50 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, compared with $32.3 million, or 34 cents, the previous year.

President Obama in his State of the Union speech Tuesday called for more investments in infrastructure even as he urged a partial freeze in federal spending to rein in the U.S. deficit.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO released a joint statement Wednesday praising President Obama’s stance on boosting U.S. infrastructure in his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Consumer confidence hit its highest level in eight months in January, the New York-based Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The International Monetary Fund boosted its forecast for global economic growth this year, reflecting stronger U.S. output based on tax-cut extensions and higher growth in emerging economies, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Carol Browner, the Obama administration’s top adviser on energy and climate issues, plans to step down from her position, the Associated Press reported, citing White House officials.

Rick Snyder, Michigan’s newly elected governor, has announced his support for a second bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

President Obama signed an executive order on Jan. 18 calling for a simplification of regulations and a review of ones that stifle economic growth.