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Retailers are expressing optimism about the resilience of U.S. consumers, a sentiment that could soon be put to the test as tariff-fueled price hikes increasingly show up on shelves.

A study from Marathon Strategies found that the trucking and automotive industries faced a combined 15 multimillion-dollar verdicts last year totaling jury awards of more than $1.4 billion.

Preliminary net data showed orders increased 18% to 8,700 units compared with the same time last year. But they also dropped 43% sequentially from June.

U.S. Class 8 retail sales declined again in July after experiencing a short-lived year-over-year rise, according to Wards Intelligence data.

The new units expand a long-running supplier relationship at a scale that signals how big fleets are renewing equipment to strengthen operations and keep experienced drivers in the seats.

The oil giant will nearly double the amount of fuel it will buy from an export plant Sempra is expanding in Texas.

Freight tonnage in July showed an increase sequentially but a decrease from the prior year, American Trucking Associations reported Aug. 19.

Stronger demand is also fueling sustained inflationary pressures.

Delays of "several months or more" were noted in reporting crashes involving driver-assistance technology.

Shoppers seek low prices for groceries and other essentials to offset worries that new U.S. tariffs may make a variety of goods more expensive.