General News
Gasoline Prices Fall to 4-Year Low on Cheap Oil, Flat Demand
Gasoline prices across the U.S. on Dec. 1 averaged $3 a gallon, according to American Automobile Association data. That's well above President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring the price below $2.
Nippon Steel to Shortlist 2 or 3 States for New US Plant
Nippon Steel is seeking a site capable of supporting a steel plant with 3 million tons of annual capacity. The plant will be run by the company’s U.S. Steel subsidiary.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Bets Big on EV's Future
Initial manufacturing of the R2 two-row crossover will start in Illinois, but production will expand to Rivian's future factory in Georgia in 2028.
VW Is Reviving Scout to Be Mostly Hybrids Rather Than EVs
More than eight out of 10 consumers who put down a $100 reservation on a Scout have selected plug-in hybrid versions over EVs.
OPEC+ Sticks With Plan to Pause Output Hikes in Early 2026
OPEC+ also approved a mechanism for its review of members’ individual production capacities, a sensitive process that will help set quotas in 2027.
Cyber Monday Could Break Spending Records
U.S. consumers already spent $11.8 billion online for Black Friday, $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day and another $11.8 billion over the weekend — exceeding forecasts by Adobe Analytics.
Global Goods Trade Slows as Tariff Front-Loading Ends
The data for airfreight and container shipping “continue to signal expansion,” even as they weakened from June, “indicating a cooling-off in the transportation of goods worldwide,” WTO said.
EV Maker Bollinger Motors Shuts Down
The future of parent company Bollinger Innovations — previously known as Mullen Automotive and formally headquartered in Southern California — remains unclear.
FedEx to Slash 856 Texas Jobs After Customer Moves Business
FedEx plans to cut hundreds of jobs in Texas after a third-party logistics customer opted to move its business to a new location and a different company.
Proterra Upbeat on Battery-Electric Demand Prospects
Proterra debuted its upgraded battery pack, the H2-23, in April, specifically targeting it for the Class 8 truck market and other demanding commercial applications.
Jobless Claims Drop to Lowest Level Since April
Initial claims decreased by 6,000 to 216,000 in the week ended Nov. 22. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 225,000 applications.
Deere Forecast Misses Expectations as Farm Slump Deepens
The weak outlook for the maker of iconic green and yellow tractors comes as farmers have been hit hard by low crop prices and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Canada to Tighten Steel Rules, Increase Lumber Aid
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government will lower the tariff-rate quota level for steel imports from countries with which Canada doesn’t have a trade agreement to 20% from 50%.
Trump Says China Has Agreed to Boost US Farm Purchases
U.S. President Donald Trump said he urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to increase the speed and size of agricultural purchases and said Beijing had “more or less agreed” to do so.
Tesla Co-Founder Straubel’s Battery Firm Redwood Cuts Dozens
Tesla co-founder JB Straubel’s battery recycling firm, Redwood Materials, cut dozens of jobs as the startup scales back some of its ambitious projects.
MD-11 Grounding After Crash May Linger for UPS, FedEx
The grounding of the workhorse freighter plane involved in a deadly crash in Kentucky may drag on for an “undeterminable period,” creating havoc for UPS, FedEx and a Florida-based carrier.
Barak Turovsky, GM's Head of AI, Leaves Automaker
General Motors' chief AI officer is out, marking the loss of another Silicon Valley alum as the company works to bulk up staffing to support tech innovation at the Detroit automaker.
Consumer Confidence in November Slides to Lowest Since April
U.S. consumers were much less confident in the economy in November in the aftermath of the government shutdown, weak hiring and stubborn inflation.
Canada Delays Trade Data After US Shutdown
Statistics Canada said it will not publish October trade data as was scheduled on Dec. 4. The agency had previously confirmed September numbers would be postponed.
Iconic Illinois Foundry Reopens Focused Just on Brake Drums
The foundry achieved a first Nov. 20, pouring its first iron as a stand-alone commercial vehicle brake drum manufacturing plant. Brake drums were soon rolling off the production line.