ALSO

* Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the world’s largest tire maker, said that original equipment tire shipments in November decreased for the company and the industry, and that it was offering early retirement to about 8.5% of its U.S. white-collar work force. The company cited production cutbacks at DaimlerChrysler for the decrease in shipments. It said it had offered a voluntary early retirement package to about 700 employees of its U.S. white-collar work force as part of a global effort to cut costs. About half of the retirements would occur at its Akron, Ohio, headquarters, Goodyear said. The company has about 105,000 employees worldwide. Goodyear said that exchange issues due to the euro’s weakness continue to have a negative effect on the company’s financial results.