Cass Freight Index Improves in December

December freight volumes grew modestly, in part due to a strike at the Port of Long Beach, Calif., according to the latest freight index report from Cass Information Systems released Tuesday.

The monthly index, which covers all modes of freight transportation, said December shipment levels grew 1.4% over the same month last year, while shipper expenditures climbed 4%.

From November to December, shipments declined 2%, while costs increased 0.9%.

The shipments index increased to 1.071 in December, compared with a January 1990 baseline of a 1.0 reading.

In contrast, the shipper expenditure component rose to 2.36 in December, using a similar baseline.