Caterpillar Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit dropped 32 percent amid a global
economic slowdown that has undermined demand and forced the company into
more job cuts and diminished profit expectations for the year.
The world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment on Monday
reported earnings that fell far short of expectations as customers scaled
back purchases. Demand took a hit from slumping commodity prices, the credit
freeze and tough market conditions.
Caterpillar, an economic bellw
