Design Studio17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDTNTEA Industry News Briefhttp://multibriefs.com/briefs/NTEA/NTEA.xmlenMedium and heavy truck sales were up 18 percent in April over the same period a year ago and down 13 percent from last month, according to figures compiled by WardsAuto.com. Dealers sold 45,048 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, up from April 2011 (38,116) and down from March 2012 (51,734).17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50a6e376211U.S. home building grew in April, the latest sign that the recovery may be strengthening in the long-struggling market. Home construction increased 2.6 percent from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 717,000, the Commerce Department said. Year-over-year, starts were up nearly 30 percent.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50a9409c8b2Initial claims for state unemployment benefits held steady at a seasonally adjusted 370,000, the Labor Department said. The prior week's figure was revised up to 370,000 from the previously reported 367,000.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50ab5bd3b93U.S. consumer prices were flat last month as cheaper gas offset modest increases for food, clothing and housing. The data indicate that inflation remains in check. The Labor Department said that the seasonally adjusted consumer price index was unchanged in April, after a 0.3 percent gain in March.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50ae54b03c4Industrial production rose 1.1 percent in April, led by automobile manufacturing and utility output, the Federal Reserve said. The gain in activity at factories, mines and utilities topped economists' projections of a 0.6 percent increase, Bloomberg reported.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50b22660115Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. has unveiled a new process that will enable Isuzu dealers to more quickly convert or modify gasoline-powered NPR-HD (14,500-lb. GVWR) trucks for their customers. 17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50b613885a6March U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $495.97 million according to AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 11.3 percent from February but down 1.4 percent up when compared with the total of $502.89 million reported for March 2011.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50bc3352ab7The price per gallon of diesel fuel dropped at its steepest level in nearly five months, according to data from the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. Declining 5.3 cents to $4.004 per gallon, this falls short of a 6.6 cent decrease to $3.828 per gallon during the week of December 19.17 May 2012 09:50:17 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb50c086eb638