Nation and world digest

NATION

GM to invest $21M in Flint Assembly plant

FLINT, Mich. — General Motors Co. says it plans to invest more than $21 million in its Flint Assembly plant to build the 2011 Chevrolet light-duty crew-cab truck.

Detroit-based GM said in a statement Monday the renovations and new machinery will make the plant more flexible and allow heavy- and light-duty trucks to be built on the same line.

GM Flint Assembly is the company’s sole producer of GM’s heavy-duty crew-cab trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Flint Assembly also makes the heavy-duty regular-cab Silverado GMC Sierra.

Prediction: Economy to be solid by early next year

NEW YORK — A private forecast of economic activity rose in August for the fifth straight month, the latest sign the recession has ended. The Conference Board’s leading indicators point to an economy on solid ground early next year, though some analysts caution that a rising unemployment rate will restrain growth.

The Conference Board said Monday its index of leading indicators rose 0.6 percent in August. That follows a 0.9 percent gain in July revised up from 0.6 percent. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected an 0.7 percent gain last month.

The indicators are designed to project economic activity in the next three to six months.

Associated Press