The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 0.2 percent in January from December, declining for the second consecutive month, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The January 2015 index level (122.9) was 29.9 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.
The level of freight shipments in January measured by the Freight TSI (122.9) was 0.6 percent below the all-time high level of 123.6 in November 2014. BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.
The Freight TSI declined in January for the second consecutive month. It was down 0.6 percent from its all-time high in November after increases for five consecutive months. Even after two months of declines, the index remained higher than it had been at any point prior to the November high. After dipping to 94.6 in April 2009, the index rose 29.9 percent in the succeeding 69 months.