Transportation Services Index Falls 0.8% in August

The Department of Transportation said Tuesday its transportation services index fell 0.8% in August.

The decline, to 124.5 after rising to 125.5 in July, is the largest monthly decline in the TSI since February 2003, though the August 2004 level is 6.7% higher than the August 2003 rating of 116.7, DOT said.

The index had fallen in May and June before rising in July, to its highest historic level, DOT said.

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.

DOT said the TSI for freight decreased 1% in August to 125.6, from the July level of 126.9, following a one-month rise in July. The August level is 6.1% higher than the August 2003 level of 118.4, the department reported.

The report also noted the passengers index decreased 0.4% to 122.3 in August, from July’s level of 122.7, following two months of increases. The August level is 8.2% higher August 2003, DOT said.

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

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