Cass Information Systems Releases December 2012 Freight Index Report
As far as North American freight volumes go, December 2012 closed an unremarkable year in an unremarkable way. From November to December, freight volumes declined 2.0 percent (a relatively small decline as far as Decembers go), while costs moved the other direction, rising almost one percent. With inventories high and retail holiday sales disappointing, it was not surprising that the year ended on such a flat note. December 2012 shipment levels were 1.4 percent higher than December 2011 and 2.1 percent higher than 2010.
Freight costs continue to increase costs at the end of 2012 were 4 percent higher than at the end of last year. Year over year, December 2012 shipments were just 1.4 percent ahead of December 2011 and 2.1 percent above December 2010. Part of the drop in shipment volume early in December can be attributed to the L.A. Long Beach port strike at the beginning of the month, although by the end of the month things seemed to be back to normal at the port.
