November 19, 2024
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 0.8% in September from August, falling for the first month after two consecutive months of growth, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). From September 2023 to September 2024 the index rose 0.4%.
The Freight TSI decreased in September due to seasonally adjusted decreases in trucking, pipeline and air freight while rail carload, rail intermodal, and water grew.
The September decrease came in the context of declines in several other indicators. The Federal Reserve Board Industrial Production (IP) Index was down 0.3% in September, reflecting declines of 0.4% in manufacturing and 0.6% in mining while utilities grew by 0.7%. Housing starts were down 0.5% but Personal Income increased by 0.3%.