By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, March 10 (MNI) - Containerized trade volumes in and out of the U.S. softened alongside seasonal demand at several major ports in January, but compared to a year ago, broader trends of rebounding exports and stabilizing imports are surfacing, according to port officials.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, March 4 (MNI) - Rising employer optimism extended the temporary-workforce uptrend in February, but lingering economic uncertainty limited permanent hiring, according to staffing executives.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Mar. 1 (MNI) - Bad weather and worse public relations dented U.S. new vehicle sales in February, slowing the pace of the struggling industry's nascent recovery, according to auto dealers.

For many dealers, more inventory meant stronger sales in February vs. miserable year-ago business, but others said unusually harsh winter weather idled showroom traffic for long enough to offset otherwise improving conditions.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (MNI) - U.S. orders for civilian aircraft launched 2010 inauspiciously, and should remain at weak levels through what's expected to be another tough year for the aviation industry, according to manufacturers and industry officials.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (MNI) - U.S. new-home sales have strengthened in early 2010 vs. recent months and year-ago figures, as buyers take advantage of the extended federal tax credit, but the road to recovery remains bumpy, according to residential builders.

Single-family homebuilders said tight credit conditions, problematic appraisals and persistently high unemployment are tempering the uptick, and the potential for existing-home inventory to balloon is a real threat going forward.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Feb 17 (MNI) - The U.S. residential rental market remains vulnerable to further price declines early this year amid excess supply and renters' firmer negotiating position, according to apartment managers, brokers and tenants.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Feb 9 (MNI) - U.S. containerized import volumes improved in December but remain fragile, despite encouraging signs emerging from the holiday season, according to port and shipping executives.

By Claudia Hirsch

NEW YORK, Feb 4 (MNI) - January brought slim improvement in permanent-job creation in the U.S. and a continuation of stronger temporary hiring, as cautious employers remained uncertain about the sustainability of any economic turnaround, according to staffing executives.