Category Archives: economy

Gasoline Prices Rising. Another Roller Coaster Ride Underway?

At the end of December 2010 gasoline prices in the United States rose above $3 a gallon for the first time since October of 2008. The difference this time around is that in 2008 the pricing trend was downward, having … Continue reading

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GM to Add Back 750 Jobs at Flint Assembly for Pickup Trucks

General Motors today announced plans to start a third shift at Flint Assembly, adding back 750 jobs in the plant that makes Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups.
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EU Auto Sales Slump Continues in 2010 for Third Straight Year

The European passenger car market shrank for the third straight year in 2010, with registrations declining by 5.5%, from 2009, according to the latest data just released from ACEA, the automakers’ trade group in the EU. Continue reading

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GM Gives Stock to Its Deeply Underfunded Pension Plan

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) today confirmed it has completed a contribution of 60.6 million shares of GM common stock to its U.S. hourly and salaried pension plans, valued at roughly $2 billion. Continue reading

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NHTSA Administrator Strickland Visits NAIAS Show Promoting Jobs, Not Safety? The Endless Partison Political Campaign Continues

The man responsible for traffic safety in the United States, David Strickland, visited the North American International Auto Show – NAIAS – this week promoting the Obama Administration’s jobs agenda – or at least the let’s talk, but do little, part of it, with nary a word about traffic safety. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company U.S. Vehicle Sales Up 19% in 2010

Ford Motor Company full-year sales in the U.S. totaled 1.935 million, up 19% compared to a year ago, the largest in any year since 1984. Ford claimed it was the largest increase of any full-line manufacturer last year. When Toyota … Continue reading

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U.S. Sales to Jump to 13 Million in 2011, GM Predicts

GM predicts that the total U.S. vehicle market in 2011 will be in the 13-13.5 million range, including medium and heavy duty trucks, up from a projected 11.8 million in 2010. Don Johnson, vice president of U.S. sales operations provided … Continue reading

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General Motors Sets China Sales Record. U.S. also up in 2010

General Motors vehicle sales in China rose 28.8% to a record 2,351,610 units in 2010. GM’s manufacturing joint ventures and major brands all set new annual sales marks, allowing GM to remain the leader among global automakers in the world’s … Continue reading

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Significant Auto Industry Stories of 2010

As 2010 dwindles it’s time to reflect on the significant automotive stories of the year from a perspective that attempts to ignore the daily hysteria of the “gotcha” playing media. The longer term effects and significance of the following stories … Continue reading

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Ex Car Czar Rattner Settles Bribery Charges for $10 Million

Steven Rattner, the Obama Administrations’ former “car czar,” has settled bribery charges in New York by paying a $10 million fine and agreeing to banishment from appearing before any public pension fund within the State of New York for five years. … Continue reading

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Ford to Expand Start-Stop Systems in U.S. by 2012

A Start-Stop system will be available for Ford’s North American cars and sport utility vehicles and crossovers starting in 2012, the maker said in a release, claiming improved city driving fuel economy between 4% and 10%. Continue reading

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EU Auto Production Still Well Below Pre Crisis Levels

New passenger car production in the European Union (EU) grew in the first half of this year before dropping by 5% in the third quarter, as sales slumped, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said today. The unemployment rate in … Continue reading

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EPA Moves Ahead on Greenhouse Gas Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a plan for establishing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution standards for refineries and power plants, in what appear to be victories for small businesses, farms and environmental moderates. It also signals the Obama Administration’s … Continue reading

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UAW Defends Korean FTA as Other Unions Protest Deal

In a late Friday afternoon e-mail to its members and supporters, the United Auto Workers Union defended its endorsement of the revised and still controversial Korean FTA or so called Free Trade Agreement. The defense came after the heads of … Continue reading

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Merry Christmas as U.S. December Auto Sales Trend Upward!

It could be a wild sleigh ride later this month, but preliminary data show that the U.S. December new-vehicle retail sales trend is significantly higher than two-handed economists predicted, setting the stage for a 2011 comeback for the U.S. auto industry.

December new-vehicle retail sales are expected to come in at 936,300 units, which means seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 10.8 million units, the highest of the year. December retail sales are expected to be up 19 % from one year ago. Continue reading

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