ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

The Jacksonville Port Authority said it recorded its busiest cargo-handling year in 2006 — its sixth consecutive year of cargo growth — with a 3% increase over 2005.

Truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises said late Thursday that it lost $2.6 million or 17 cents per share in the first quarter, compared with earning $730,000 or 5 cents a year ago.

Third-party logistics company and freight broker Hub Group said late Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 25% to $11.4 million or 29 cents a share, from $9.1 million or 22 cents a share a year ago.

Manufacturing levels in the Philadelphia were flat in April from last month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said.

Heavy equipment and diesel engine manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. said Friday that its first-quarter net income dipped 3% to $816 million, from a record $840 million a year ago.

Rail carload freight rose modestly but intermodal traffic continued a downward trend last week, falling 3.6% compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

An index of leading economic indicators inched up 0.1% last month, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

Initial jobless claims fell by 4,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Union Pacific Corp., the nation’s largest freight railroad, said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 24% to $386 million or $1.41 per share, from $311 million or $1.15 last year.