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Manufacturing levels in the Philadelphia region declined this month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said.

An index of leading economic indicators rose 0.1% last month, the first increase in six months, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Oil prices hit yet another record high Friday, toping $116 a barrel on concerns that an earthquake centered in Illinois could affect refinery operations, Bloomberg reported.

Hino Motors Ltd. said it will halt assembly of trucks in California and shift the work to a West Virginia factory to consolidate U.S. production, Bloomberg reported.

Housing starts plunged 11.9% in March to the lowest level in 17 years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

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

WASHINGTON — American Trucking Associations Chairman Ray Kuntz asked a Senate committee Wednesday to make fundamental changes to federal surface transportation programs in order to allow the trucking industry to move freight more efficiently.

Unfavorable economic trends and fuel prices will collaborate to propel trucking companies’ first-quarter earnings below year-ago levels and will lead to a shrinkage of the fleet in the truckload sector, industry analysts said.

Federal officials and Port of Long Beach, Calif., executives were scheduled to meet privately this week to develop measures aimed at boosting local enrollment for the government’s Transportation Worker Identification program, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported Tuesday.

YRC Worldwide unit USF Holland’s president, John O’Sullivan, has left his position and will be succeeded by Keith Lovetro, who leads YRC’s Regional Transportation unit, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.