Agency Releases Freight Transportation Services Index, Freight Shipments Rose 1.7 Percent in November from October
The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 1.7 percent in November from October, rising after a one-month decline, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI). The November 2012 index level (108.9) was 15.5 percent above the April 2009 low during the recession.
BTS reported that the level of freight shipments in November measured by the Freight TSI (108.9) was 4.5 percent below the all-time high level of 114.0 in December 2011. BTS’ TSI records began in 1990.
Trend: Since peaking in December 2011 (114.0) at the highest level in the 22-year history of the Freight TSI series, the index remained in a narrow band through the first 11 months of 2012, except for a drop in October to 107.1, its lowest level since May 2011 (105.2). The index then returned in November to its level of one year ago in November 2011. After dipping to 94.3 in April 2009 during the recession, freight shipments increased in 28 of the last 43 months, rising 15.5 percent during that period.
