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The Labor Department said Friday that prices of goods imported into the United States rose 0.8% in February, following a revised 0.7% jump the month before.

President Bush on Wednesday named Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to be U.S. trade representative, replacing Robert Zoellick, who has become Condoleezza Rice's top deputy at the State Department.

By Michael DuVall

Trucking companies flush with cash after several quarters of posting higher profits from surging freight volumes and increased freight rates said they were funneling more funds into equipment and real estate, making up for years of restrained buying during the economic downturn. br clear=all>

AAA said Thursday that the average retail price for regular gasoline rose to a record $2.055 a gallon on Tuesday..

The number of heavy-duty vehicles in use in the United States increased 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2004, a slower rate than the third quarter’s gain.

The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index declined to 92.9 in March, the lowest since November, from a final reading of 94.1 in February, Bloomberg reported..

An index of manufacturing in the Philadelphia area fell to 11.4 in March, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said Thursday.

The index of leading U.S. economic indicators rose in February, the third increase in four months, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

FedEx Corp. reported Thursday that net income for its third quarter ended Feb. 28 rose to $317 million or $1.03 per share, up from $207 million or 68 cents a year ago.