Freight Index tumbles 1.8 percent

The Transportation Services Index for freight fell 1.8 percent to 107.7 in February compared to the same month a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

It is the second consecutive year-over-year February decline. The index is down 4.6 percent from its peak of 112.8, first achieved in January 2005.

On a monthly basis, the index was down 0.2 percent from the January 2007 level. It is the second consecutive monthly drop for the index.

The index is a seasonally adjusted index of monthly changes in the output of the for-hire transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways, pipeline and local transit. The baseline (100.0) year is 2000.

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