Walmart Says It Needs 900 More Truckers This Year, Hikes Pay

Walmart is raising trucker salaries in its push to hire 900 more drivers this year across the United States, including Texas, where it has a big concentration of large distribution centers where empty trucks get filled.

Canada’s economy may soon endure something it hasn’t faced in 68 years

Canada’s economy may soon endure something it hasn’t faced in 68 years: A recession without the U.S. in the same boat. That’s the view of Jim Mylonas, global macro strategist at BCA Research Inc. in Montreal, a firm that’s been making calls on markets and economies since 1949. Mylonas says the surge in household debt combined with rising interest rates will push the Canadian economy into recession, even while the U.S. economy continues to grow.

China’s economy grew 6.6% in 2018, the lowest pace in 28 years

China on Monday announced that its official economic growth came in at 6.6 percent in 2018 – the slowest pace since 1990. That announcement was highly anticipated by many around the world amid Beijing’s ongoing trade dispute with the U.S., its largest trading partner.

Jamie Dimon: US economy is like a ship that could hit a ‘slowdown or recession’

Another weekly decrease in diesel prices across the U.S. has fuel at its lowest price since 2017, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Energy. A 1.1-cent decrease during the week ending Jan. 21 has the U.S.’ average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel at $2.965. The last time prices were lower was Christmas Day 2017 when the national average was $2.903.

High level of December U.S.-bound waterborne shipments finishes a strong 2018, says Panjiva

United States-bound waterborne shipments in December capped a record-breaking year for global trade, according to data issued this week by global trade intelligence firm Panjiva.

Air cargo supply chain disruptions expected if U.S. shutdown persists

The current United States federal government shutdown is already the longest in history with no clear end in sight, and industry associations and participants are concerned that aviation and airfreight will suffer in the short- and long-term if it is not resolved soon.

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Has Best Year in 20 Years

Truck tonnage closed out 2018 on a 20-year high with an annual increase of 6.6%, American Trucking Associations announced. The result was the highest for the federation’s seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index since 1998, when truck tonnage rose 10.1%, ATA said. And last year’s gain came despite a downturn in December, when tonnage dipped 4.3% to 111.9 from November’s level of 116.9. In calculating the monthly index, 100 represents 2015.

Industrial outlook cloudy but solid overall economic fundamentals rosy for trucking industry

Mixed economic signals are proving to be somewhat of a Rorschach Test for shippers trying to gauge freight demand levels heading into the strongest part of the 2019 freight season.

U.S. economy could slip from top spot in 2020 and keep slipping, analysts say

America’s days as the world’s most powerful economy are numbered, and when that torch is finally passed, it’ll be tough to get back, according to a recent report. In our call of the day, Standard Chartered predicts that China’s GDP will overtake the U.S. next year. What’s more, within another decade, India is pegged to push the U.S. even further down the list.

US economy has good momentum in 2019: Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida

The Federal Reserve Opens a New Window.affirmed its optimistic outlook for the U.S. economy Opens a New Window.in 2019. “The economy has good momentum going into 2019,” Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said in an exclusive interview on FOX Business on Monday. “Our priority is pursuing a monetary policy that will achieve our objective, which is full employment and price stability.”