Keyword
Economy
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Consumers driving U.S. economy, as business investment stalls: FTR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Business investment has dried up due to uncertainty over trade tensions, but consumer spending remains strong and has kept the U.S. economy moving forward. Consumer spending is the most critical component of the economy, since it drives…
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Trade war, consumer confidence to impact truck demand
COLUMBUS, Ind. – The main risk facing the North American commercial vehicle market and the economy is the trade war with China, while the consumer remains the key driver of the economy. That’s from ACT Research and its North American…
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Slow growth, but no recession ahead: Economist
Trucking sees softening conditions, but no “drop-off” in volumes, Surface Transportation Summit attendees hear
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Trade war biggest threat to commercial vehicle market: ACT
COLUMBUS, Ind. – A trade war with China remains the key risk to the North American commercial vehicle outlook and the overall economy, according to a new report from ACT Research. But consumer spending remains strong and could keep the…
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Trucking conditions moved positive in July
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trucking conditions in the U.S. improved slightly in July, with a reading just above neutral at 0.28. Lower diesel prices offset the effects of lower capacity utilization, pushing the index into positive territory for the first time…
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The new normal: Slow, steady growth
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – There’s little sign a recession is imminent, but economic growth will continue to be slow and steady. That was the projection from Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist with Kleinhenz & Associates, who gave an economic update at the…
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Trucking conditions improved slightly in June: FTR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trucking conditions improved slightly in June, but remain in negative territory, according to the latest FTR Trucking Conditions Index (TCI). A reading of -0.82 came from strengthening freight demand and lower diesel prices, but was offset by…
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Shipper conditions deteriorated in April
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Conditions for U.S. shippers took a step back in April, due to stronger rail rates and higher fuel prices, according to FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index. However, FTR expects the rate environment through 2019 to become more favorable…
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Loadings growth slowing, rates on the decline: FTR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trucking rates are expected to decrease about 7% this year, primarily driven by the spot market, with contract rates flat to down 1%. That’s the projection from industry forecaster FTR, which held a State of Freight webinar…
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Trailer order cancellations on the rise
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Trailer orders are down 37% year to date through April, but fleets are still willing to place orders, ACT Research reports. “Year-to-date net orders through April were just over 80,000 units, down 37% from last year, but…
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B.C.’s trucking vacancy rates highest of any sector
KELOWNA, B.C. – “I don’t even know how you’re operating if that is at all possible.” That was the reaction from B.C. economist Ken Peacock after learning from Statistics Canada that the trucking industry has the highest job vacancy rate…
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Likelihood of freight recession increasing: ACT
COLUMBUS, Ind. – The risk of a freight recession is rising, according to the latest ACT Freight Forecast from ACT Research. “Freight remains soft, as expected, and while we see reasons for recovery in the second half of 2019, escalating…
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FTR provides mid-year economic review
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Industry forecaster FTR’s senior economist Bill Witte takes a slightly dimmer view of the U.S. economy than he did several months ago, but is still projecting 2.5% GDP growth this year. In a webinar to provide an…
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Freight growth stagnating: ACT Research
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Freight growth is stagnating while the Class 8 truck population is accelerating, according to an analysis from ACT Research. In its State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Report, ACT reported Class 8 metrics in March aligned with…
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Pricing pendulum swinging to shippers’ favor: ACT Research
COLUMBUS, Ind. – A freight recession is possible, and a rate recession is likely, according to a new freight forecast report from ACT Research. Its ACT Freight Forecast: U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook found that dry van rates, net of…
