US freight services index shows lowest November since 2003

THE US Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) showed its lowest November reading since 2003, reported the US Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The November 2008 freight TSI level was 2.4 per cent lower than the November 2007 level of 110.2. The freight index is, said BTS as reported by the UK's Transport Intelligence. Despite a 4.9 per cent decline from its historic peak in November 2005, the freight index has increased 2.2 per cent in five years and 6.8 per cent in 10 years.

The November decline was the third monthly decrease in four months. At 107.6 in November, the freight TSI is at its lowest level since January 2004 when it was 106.5 and is down 4.9 per cent from its historic peak of 113.1 reached in November 2005.

For the first 11 months of 2008, the index had fallen 0.7 per cent. The index rose 1.3 per cent in the first 11 months of 2007 before dropping in December to finish the year down by 0.1 per cent.

Source: Schednet