May 20, 2025
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, fell 1.1% in March from February, falling after a one-month increase, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). From March 2024 to March 2025 the index rose 0.4%
The Freight TSI decreased in March due to seasonally adjusted decreases in pipeline and trucking, while water, rail carload, rail intermodal and air freight increased.
The March decrease occurred in the context of mixed results in other indicators. The Federal Reserve Board Industrial Production (IP) Index was down 0.3% in March, reflecting increases of 0.3% in manufacturing and 0.6% in mining, while utilities was down 5.8%. Housing starts were down 11.4% while Personal Income increased by 0.5%.