June 6, 2005 1:30 PM, EDT

DOT’s Transportation Services Index Rises

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he Department of Transportation said Monday its transportation services index rose 1.2% in March from February.

The rise to 129.9 followed a 1% drop in February and was the fourth increase in the past six months, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported.

The TSI for freight rose 0.5% to 130.2 following a 1% drop in February.

Compared with last year, the overall index rose 5% and the freight index increased 4%, BTS said in its monthly report.

The TSI for passengers for March rose 3% to 129.9, following a 1% drop in February.

TSI 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.