There's New Life In The Old Boom

Six months ago, Ryder System Inc. was resigned to a mediocre 1999. Its forecast was for the U.S. economy to slow to an anemic 1% growth rate. But five weeks into the new year, Miami-based Ryder has thrown that prediction away. Business "is as strong as we have ever seen it," exults Chief Executive M. Anthony Burns.

And as Ryder goes, so goes the nation, since deliveries by its 175,000-truck fleet reflect everything from manufacturing to retail to capital equipment. "We're a very good indicator of demand," says Burns. "Not only are people seeing good business today, they're even optimistic about the longer term."