Employees at food and beverage stores, good services and drinking places, and gasoline stations are seeing an acute rise in pay levels so far this year, according to Merrill Lynch.
Archive for August, 2016
US housing starts total 1.21M in July vs. 1.18M starts expected
U.S. housing starts unexpectedly rose in July as building activity increased across the board, supporting the view that investment in residential construction will rebound after slumping in the second quarter.
Solid U.S. consumer spending boosts prospect of Fed rate hikes
U.S. consumer spending increased for a fourth straight month in July amid strong demand for automobiles, pointing to a pickup in economic growth that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.
Oil down 1 percent, pressured by glut, dollar, Nigeria outlook
Oil prices fell nearly 2 percent on Monday, snapping two consecutive days of gains, on caution over galloping Middle East crude output and a stronger dollar boosted by speculation of a U.S. rate hike by the year-end.
Container carrier losses could reach $10b in 2016
With 13 of the top 20 container lines reporting combined losses of $2.5 billion in the first half alone, industry losses will likely range from $8 billion to $10 billion for the full year, according to Lars Jensen, CEO of SeaIntelligence Consulting.
California pushes forward Sustainable Freight Action Plan
Evolving from an Executive Order issued last year by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., and a draft version issued in May 2016, California has now released its Sustainable Freight Action Plan, a blueprint for moving the state’s multi-billion-dollar freight transport system into a more environmentally cleaner direction.
DOT Finally Proposes Truck Speed-Limiter Rule
Federal safety regulators are proposing that heavy-duty vehicles be equipped with speed-limiting devices set to a specific maximum speed. A notice of proposed rulemaking was issued jointly on Aug. 26 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Cross-Border Freight Value Moves Lower for 18th Straight Month
New Transportation Department figures show June marked the 18th consecutive month the total value of U.S. freight movements with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico declined from the same time a year earlier.
Dairy alternatives projected to surpass $35B by 2024
Beverages continue to be a major segment for plant-based dairy, as almond, cashew, walnut and coconut milks continue to grow in popularity for drinking and cooking purposes. Almond milk boosted its share to 28% of new dairy product launches last year.
Will you be ready for Brake Safety Week Sept. 11-17?
During Sept. 11-17 law enforcement agencies across North America will conduct brake inspections of large trucks and buses. They will be looking for out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake-system and anti-lock braking system (ABS) violations as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week.