DOT's Transportation Index Rises for Third Straight Month

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he Department of Transportation said Monday its transportation services index rose 0.8% in May from 111.7 in April, for the TSI's third monthly increase.

The TSI freight index rose 0.5% to 113.1 in May from 112.6, also the third consecutive monthly increase, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in its monthly report.

Compared with last year, the overall TSI rose 4% while the freight index increased 2.4%, BTS said.

The TSI passengers index gained1.8% to 111.2 in May, from April’s 109.3, also the third straight monthly increase. May’s level was 8.2% over the May 2004 figure.

SI is a seasonally adjusted monthly index measuring the output of services provided by the for-hire transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways, pipeline and local transit.

It includes data dating back to 1990, with changes measured against the base year of 1996. DOT said the index is still under development and is considered experimental.