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The rate at which new homes are being sold in the United States jumped 5.3% in February to an annualized pace of 875,000, a government report released Wednesday said.

On a day when reports on consumer confidence and durable goods orders gave a murky picture of the nation's economic health, some leading economic officials gave differing opinions about the strength of a possible recovery, Reuters reported Tuesday.

With major truck shows being held around the country this spring, including this week’s 2002 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., truck makers are rolling out new and improved products in the hopes of wooing customers.

The consumer price index, or the measure of what U.S. consumers are spending on goods, rose 0.2% for the second straight month in February, a government report said. It was one of three reports released Thursday that offered a mixed, but generally positive, view of the economy.

Labor leaders say Freightliner LLC executives tried to intimidate workers voting Wednesday on an invitation to join the United Auto Workers union, the Associated Press reported. The charge came as DaimlerChrysler officials were pronouncing the restructuring of the heavy truck unit to be on schedule.

The average price of diesel fuel in the United States jumped another 3.5 cents last week to $1.251 a gallon, the Department of Energy said Monday. Over the past three weeks, the price has risen 9.7 cents per gallon.

The output of America’s factories, mines and utilities increased by 0.4% in February, according to a government report released Friday -- the second increase in as many months and first back-to-back gains since August-September of 2000.

Inventories in the United States rose 0.2% in January, showing signs that businesses are increasing their stockpiles to meet future demand, a Commerce Department report said Thursday. It was the first increase in 12 months.

Despite opposition from trucking groups and other users of diesel fuel, the Minnesota State House and State Senate passed a bill requiring the use of biodiesel additives in any diesel fuel sold in the state.

Wholesale inventories fell for the eighth consecutive month in January, slipping 0.2%, a government report released Monday said.