Quick Overview

• U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Tuesday the responsibility for helping correct big U.S. trade imbalances lay with Europe and Japan because the Bush administration was doing what it needed to do.
  
  
• The Conference Board's U.S. consumer confidence index increased from 103.1 to 105.8 in June, the highest in three years.
  

• London Copper inventories now stand at 30,250 tons down from 49,375 at the beginning of the year.
  
  

• An index of business confidence in France increased from 97 to 99 in June.
  
  

• Japan's retail sales were down 1.5% in May.
  
  

• The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that they expect Japan's unemployment rate to drop from 4.4% in 2005 to 4.1% in 2006.
  

• Overall trucking freight volumes rose 0.7% in May as the economy grew modestly, American Trucking Associations said Monday.
  
  

• Rising asphalt prices have caused at least five states to delay or cancel road resurfacing projects, which could have an adverse effect on commercial vehicles, transportation officials said

• The Journal of Commerce reports that as demand continues to run ahead of available capacity, motor carriers once again are calling the shots when it comes to pricing.
  
  

• Diesel Gains 2.3 Cents to Hit New Record of $2.336