BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI index has risen 3.3 percent over the last eight months, starting in June. It has increased in six of the last eight months ( Table 2 ). The index started 2010 with an increase in January, after having declined 4.1 percent during 2009 and 12.4 percent in two years ( Table 3 ). For additional historic data, go to http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml

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 January Freight TSI of 96.6 is a 3.3 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May. In May, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight TSI is down 14.4 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006.

The January Freight TSI of 96.6 is the lowest for January since January 1997 when it was 89.9. With a 1.3 percent decline from January 2009 to January 2010 following a 12.9 percent decline from January 2008 to January 2009, the index has declined 14.0 percent in two years ( Table 4 ).

The freight index is down 14.3 percent in the five years from January 2005. The index is down 7.5 percent in the 10 years from January 2000 ( Table 5 ).

The TSI is a seasonally adjusted index that measures changes from the monthly average of the base year of 2000. It includes historic data from 1990 to the present. Release of the February index is scheduled for April 14.

For a video explanation of the TSI, see Overview of the Transportation Services Index. For a BTS report explaining the TSI, Transportation Services Index and the Economy is available for download in the BTS bookstore.

Transportation Services Index for Passengers
The TSI for passengers rose 1.2 percent in January from its December level ( Table 6 ). The Passenger TSI January 2010 level of 109.5 was 0.5 percent below the January 2009 level, for the second consecutive January-to-January decrease, and marking the first consecutive January-to-January decreases in the 20-year history of the TSI ( Table 7 ). Despite recent declines, the index is up 1.2 percent in five years and 14.8 percent in 10 years ( Table 5 ).

The passenger TSI measures the month-to-month changes in travel conducted in the for-hire passenger transportation sector. The seasonally adjusted index consists of data from air, local transit and intercity rail.

Combined Freight and Passenger Index
The combined freight and passenger TSI rose 0.6 percent in January from its December level ( Table 8 ). The combined TSI January 2010 level of 99.4 was 1.1 percent lower than the January 2009 level, leaving the index at its lowest January level since 2002 ( Table 9 ). The combined index is down 10.7 percent in five years and down 2.0 percent in 10 years ( Table 5 ).

The combined TSI merges the freight and passenger indexes into a single index.

More on TSI
NOTE: TSI numbers for September ( Freight, Passenger and Combined ) were revised because of revisions in the output data of the component transportation services. The September Freight TSI is 96.6, revised from the 95.7 reported in last month’s release. The September Passenger TSI is 110.4, revised from 110.3. The September Combined TSI is 99.7, revised from 98.9. The TSI for October, November, December and January are preliminary.

TSI revision policy: TSI is updated monthly with the latest four months’ index numbers considered preliminary. Each month BTS releases the latest preliminary TSI, and replaces the oldest preliminary TSI with a revised TSI. More information about the monthly revision policy, is available at http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml

More information about the comprehensive revision conducted with the July release is provided under 2009 Comprehensive Revision at http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml

Source: Media Newswire