The Freight Transportation Services Index gained 0.9 percent in March from February, its third straight monthly increase
, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The index experienced its first year-over-year increase since July 2008, rising 2.6 percent from March 2009.

Over the first three months of 2010, the index has increased 1.6 percent.

The March Freight TSI of 97.8 is a 4.5 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight TSI is down 13.4 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006.

The Freight TSI index has risen 4.5 percent over the last 10 months, starting in June, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in eight of the last 10 months.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

The freight index is down 12.5 percent in the five years from March 2005, and down 1.9 percent in the 10 years from March 2000.

For additional historical data, visit www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml.


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