Freight index rises in July

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.4 percent in July from June, rising for the second consecutive month, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported Sept. 9.  
 
BTS reported the Freight TSI has risen 5 percent over the last 14 months, starting in June 2009, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months. The index has increased in 11 of the last 14 months.  Through the first seven months of 2010, the index declined 1.3 percent. For additional historic data, go to http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OSEA/TSI
 
The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.
 
The July Freight TSI of 98.2 is a 5 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 in May 2009. The July Freight TSI is down 13 percent from its peak of 112.9 in May 2006.