The US Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, reached an all-time high in October, rising 0.6 percent in October from September, after a one-month decline, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The October 2017 index level (129.2) was 36.4 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.
The level of for-hire freight shipments in October measured by the Freight TSI (129.2) reached an all-time high, 0.2 percent above the previous high reached in August (129.0).
Significant increases in trucking, rail carloads, rail intermodal, and water led the October increase of 0.6 percent while air freight declined and pipeline was stable. The TSI increase took place against a background of strong results for other indicators. The Federal Reserve Board Industrial Production index rose by 0.9 percent in October, with increases in manufacturing and utilities. Employment rose, personal income grew and housing starts increased. The Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing index declined to 58.7, indicating positive but decelerating growth.