US freight index rises, but still 14pc down from May 2006 peak

THE US Department of Transportation has issued the latest edition of its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which shows volumes increasing 0.3 per cent in February from its January level for the second month in a row.

February TSI numbers also stood at 96.9, a 3.6 per cent increase from May 2009 when the index hit 93.5, its lowest level since June 1997. The TSI is still down 14.1 per cent from its historic peak of 112.9 in May 2006.

The index covers for-hire trucking, freight railroad services, rail-based intermodal shipments including containers on flatcars, inland waterway traffic, pipeline movements, including petroleum products, natural gas and air cargo, but not sabotage, private trucking, courier services or the US Postal Service.

(Source: www.schednet.com)