Graphs: Exploring the Rising American Debt Ceiling & other Economic Implications

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Truckonomics: Small fleets hit the brakes!

Persistently high fuel prices and plummeting freight spot markets are driving small fleets out of the trucking industry. According to the latest federal data, departures this year are reaching record levels. In the first four months of this year, over 31,000 trucking companies left the industry.

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Sticker shock drives parked cars

A predictable and sensible response to rising prices for new and used cars is to hold onto your current vehicle. That's precisely what Americans are doing. The average age of a light-duty vehicle on U.S. roads has increased by over three months this year.

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Tender Deflation: Rates Hit Rock-bottom!

Tender rejection rates have now reached an all-time low. Low rejection rates are crucial because they indicate that carriers are facing difficulties in finding load opportunities, resulting in fewer loads to pick up and accepting almost any load. Consequently, carriers have experienced a significant loss of pricing power.

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Electrifying the Globe: EVolution in Motion!

Worldwide, EV adoption is on the rise.

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Job Bliss

Workers appear to be happier with their work situations than they have been in decades. Rising wages and greater flexibility are likely important factors

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States of Contentment: USatisfACTION!

And, in general, most Americans are satisfied with many key aspects of life.

But consider the effects of income on satisfaction.

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Globally Flourishing: Progress Multiplied

In an upbeat article labeled '50 Ways the World is Getting Better,' here are five:

1. In 1800, approximately half of all babies born died during childhood. Life expectancy was just 30 years, with no country having a life expectancy above 40. By 1870, life expectancy at birth was only 45 years. Today, the average global life expectancy is 72.

2. In 1905, a Vermont doctor and his chauffeur successfully drove a car across the country from San Francisco to New York, taking them 63 days. Today, you can fly cross-country in a matter of hours and enjoy wireless Internet access.

3. In 1900, infectious diseases accounted for over 37% of deaths. By 1955, that number dropped to less than 5% and further reduced to just 2% by 2009.

4. Between 1961 and 2009, the amount of land used to grow food increased by 12%, while the amount of food produced increased by 300%.

5. From 1950 to 2009, death rates in traffic accidents decreased six-fold."

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Infla-groan: Wallet Woes Inflate

Inflation continues to impose financial hardship on many Americans, especially among low-income families.

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Chile: Charged with Lithium Power

Chile possesses over 40% of the world's lithium reserves, a key material required for EV batteries. Recently, Chile surprised everyone by nationalizing the industry.

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Debt Ceiling: Sky's Limit

Everything about the debt ceiling.

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