National Average Price for Regular Unleaded Current: $3.597; Month Ago: $3.660; Year Ago: $3.532. National Average Price for Diesel Current: $3.920; Month Ago: $4.056; Year Ago: $4.015.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1% in December after rising 0.5% in November. In December, the index equaled 114.7 (2015=100) compared with 113.5 in November. “December’s gain was the fifth straight totaling 4.4%,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “In December, tonnage reached the highest level since March, but it was still 2.7% below the pre-pandemic high. This is likely due to the fact ATA’s data is dominated by contract freight. Contractor truckload carriers operated fewer trucks in 2021 compared with 2020 and it is difficult to haul significantly more tonnage with fewer trucks. But overall, we have seen a nice trend up that is reflective of a still growing goods-economy.” November’s reading was revised down from our December 21 press release.

The Phoenix Challenge Foundation announces that flexographic printing has officially been added to the Scouts of America’s Graphic Arts Merit Badge requirements — a milestone that will introduce thousands of youth to one of the most innovative and essential printing technologies in the world. Flexographic printing, the prominent process used for packaging, labels, medical and countless everyday products, is a vital part of the global consumer-products supply chain. By incorporating this process into the merit badge curriculum, Scouts across the nation will gain hands-on experience and exposure to career paths that blends creativity, evolving technology, and precision manufacturing. The Graphic Arts Merit Badge has long covered processes such as offset, screen, and lithographic printing. Adding flexography modernizes the program, ensuring it reflects industry advancements and prepares youth for future opportunities.