The number of twenty-foot cargo containers (TEUs) landing at US ports in January totaled more than 1.475 million, a year-over-year increase of 4.1% and an increase of 11% over December imports. January makes the…
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that 631 million people boarded domestic flights last year. Jet fuel costs were relatively low in 2011. That is no longer true. Americans who cannot afford to travel…
The recession and its aftermath have not damaged the luxury car market. Mercedes and Audi have said they expect good 2012 sales. BMW reports it expects a record year, because of the strength of its new 3-series mid-sized four-doors…
The market value of General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Volkswagen, two of the largest car companies in the world, rely a great deal on their dominant positions in the Chinese market. That market now…
The recent news from Chrysler has been almost all good. U.S. sales rose 40% in February, well outdistancing the improvement for most of its rivals. The car maker repaid $7 billion in loans given…
Toyota (NYSE: TM) said its U.S. car sales rose faster than expected in February and that March sales are off to a strong start. Much of the credit, the company said, goes to demand…
The still-sputtering economy which continues to be undermined by high unemployment and low home prices has not arrested a tremendous revival of car sales. In 2008 and 2009, national sales barely averaged 10 million, down…
February car sales in the U.S. will be at multimonth highs and the annual sales run rate will be 14 million. Chrylser has already announced a 40% improvement. That is still well below the…
The recent history of the results of car company mergers is mixed. Renault and Nissan virtually merged in 1999 and share Carlos Ghosn as their CEO. There is no compelling evidence that the marriage has…
Chinese sales have been a backbone of General Motors’ (NYSE: GM) and Volkswagen’s earnings for several years. These firms have ridden their shares of the world’s largest car and light truck market to strong profit margins. All…
People buy cars based on personal appeal, price, performance, fuel efficiency and reliability. Reliability is among the most important factors for most consumers. A car or light truck that runs without problems saves its…
General Motors (NYSE: GM) has been in the news this week for two reasons. One is presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s views about whether the government should have bailed out the car maker. The other…
One reason investors like to own General Motors (NYSE: GM) stock is that that company is the leading car manufacturer in China, when its local partners’ sales results are added to its own. Chinese sales…
Nissan and Toyota (NYSE: TM), two of Japan’s largest car companies, reported better than expected quarterly earnings and posted solid forecasts. Europe-based Opel, part of General Motors (NYSE: GM), continues to struggle with huge…
GM says that its European operation Opel has lost $18 billion since 1999. This, in the minds of many investors, undermines the profits that GM makes in large markets–particularly the US and China. With…