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In December, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) declined 0.1 percent from November’s level to 98.8, the lowest December index since 2001 and same level as December 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The TSI decreased 3.7 percent compared with December 2008’s index.

December’s Freight TSI of 96.2 matched November’s index, but fell 4.1 percent year over year and dropped to its lowest December level since 1996. Although the index declined for the full year, it increased 2.9 percent during 2009’s last seven months, BTS said.

December’s Passenger TSI decreased 0.5 percent from November’s level to 108.2. On a year-over-year basis, the index dropped 2.3 percent, marking the second-straight annual decline — the first time in the TSI’s 20-year history that the passenger index fell in two consecutive years, BTS said.

In the fourth quarter, the TSI decreased 0.1 percent, Freight TSI increased 0.5 percent and Passenger TSI fell 1.9 percent.

For more quarterly, monthly and annual TSI data, follow this link.