TAUNTON, MA-Dozens of sign-toting and chanting union members marched on the Haskon Aerospace manufacturing plant here after being informed that they would lose their jobs before the end of 2010. MORE

DETROIT, MI-Arvin Meritor, the Troy-based global supplier of axles and brakes to the commercial vehicle market, is selectively hiring in Michigan after reducing its worldwide headcount by 17% between fall 2008 and spring 2009, CEO Chip McClure said Wednesday at the annual SAE breakfast of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership. MORE

MCLEAN, VA-In an another sign of U.S. economic growth, sales of machine tools totaled nearly $164 million in February, a 29 percent increase from January sales and a 22 percent increase from February 2009. All totaled, sales for the first two months of 2010 are up 22 percent compared with the same period in 2009. MORE

DETROIT-Real-world tests show that GM’s rechargeable electric car can travel 40 miles on battery power. Engineers are testing six Volts that recently were made on a Detroit assembly line, driving them at the company’s proving ground and on roads around Detroit. MORE

WASHINGTON-A flurry of reports out Wednesday suggested that many Americans are feeling better about the economic rebound. Retail spending rose sharply and more than expected. Consumer inflation remains all but invisible. Businesses are boosting their stockpiles in anticipation of higher shopper demand. MORE

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY-IBM Corp. has opened a new $30 million manufacturing facility here to produce the next generation of mainframes and servers. MORE

CEDAR FALLS, IA-No injuries were reported in an explosion and fire at an assembly plant here. Emergency crews were called to Viking Pump late Sunday after an explosion in a large air compressor. MORE

SHREVEPORT, LA-The GM plant here resumed production of Hummers today, working to fill a special order by a fleet service company. The resumption is only temporary: GM still plans to end the Hummer brand. MORE

MILLVILLE, PA-The opening of Boeing’s U.S. Army helicopter modification center here create up to 100 jobs. MORE

ALBUQUERQUE, NM-Start-up energy company Green2V will spend $500 million over the next five years to build a 1 million-square-foot plant in Rio Rancho, NM, that will potentially provide 1,500 jobs in the area. The company will use the facility to manufacture solar cells and modular glass frames. MORE