Business news digest

REGION

United Steelworkers, Severstal to resume talks

WHEELING, W.Va. — Severstal North America and the United Steelworkers will resume bargaining on a contract for 6,000 workers in four states. Among the plants involved is Severstal Warren, which is the former WCI Steel in Warren.

Negotiations have been under way in Pittsburgh for six months. The contract expires March 31.

Talks are to resume Thursday. On the table is how to fund retiree benefits.

NATION

U.S. industrial output falls 4th month in a row

WASHINGTON — The nation’s industrial output fell for the fourth straight month in February, with factories operating at their lowest level in six decades of record keeping.

Analysts forecast more production cuts to come as companies are battered by recessions at home and abroad.

The Federal Reserve reported Monday that industrial output dropped by 1.4 percent last month, slightly more than the 1.2 percent decline economists had expected.

Vindicator staff/wire reports