Economics

A U.S. trustee has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee to oversee the operations of IPS Worldwide.

Investors in search of yield have turned to private equity for sometime now. What’s new is the willingness for seemingly large, risk-averse investment funds to tap into the private equity markets.

Fed downgrades GDP growth projections, cancels rate hikes, stops balance sheet runoff, but “economic fundamentals are strong.”

The BiTA Standards Council has ratified the Alliance’s first data standard in record time. Read about the standard and the foundational framework endorsed by the Council.

FedEx execs counseled patience, but will Wall Street listen?

GT Solutions, a transportation solutions provider based in France, is the latest member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). BiTA is developing blockchain standards for the global transportation/logistics marketplace.

Stepping into the system is expected by this economist to be Donald Trump, using emergency powers to halt exports of diesel fuel

Investors are risk-on for Europe, putting money into Italian, Greek, and junk bonds, and equities.

Industrial production rose by a paltry 0.1% in February, restrained by a second consecutive decline in manufacturing activity

The Leaf platform allows shippers and carriers to enter into so-called “forward contracts” – the buying and selling of future transportation capacity.

Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure eased further in February, as a gain in goods prices was restrained by the service sector. Industry detail showed that overall trucking rates declined in February, led by the largest decline in long-distance truckload rates in four years.

Retail sales rebounded in January despite big declines in motor vehicle and gasoline sales. Gains in core sales helped to stabilize the retail sector during the month, erasing much of the decline from December 2018.

Market expert Dean Croke writes about the impact of Daylight Saving Time (DST) on drivers (particularly truckers) and the pros and cons of the energy saving rationale behind DST.

The FinEst Bay Area has secured a $17 billion financing for the world’s longest undersea tunnel between Finland and Estonia from a large Chinese private equity firm. This is yet another example of the Chinese interest in European infrastructure, a possible extension to their grand OBOR initiative.

Job growth fell well short of expectations in February, as the economy added the fewest workers to payrolls since 2017. Hiring slumped in several industries during the month, but trucking employment increased for the ninth consecutive month.

“The Marines have embraced this because it saves lives and makes them the most lethal, most effective fighting force the world has ever known.”

Talks between the U.S. and China have made significant progress over the last several weeks, and the two sides appear to be closer to a deal than at any time over the past several months. However, while the restoration of positive trade relations will help the trade outlook, other factors are likely to keep trade growth subdued going forward.

Asparagus from Mexico and California moves around the world as air cargo from Los Angeles International Airport.

FreightWaves executives discuss how futures mitigate risks facing carriers, shippers and intermediaries in spot trucking market.

Oregon business and philanthropic leader Peter Stott started his first trucking company in 1969.