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In August, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) totaled 108.7, a 2.5 percent decline compared with July’s level — the largest month-over-month drop in five years, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The index decreased 2.2 percent compared with August 2005.

During 2006’s first eight months, the TSI fell 1.6 percent — the first January-to-August decline since 2003.

August’s Freight TSI of 108.1 declined 3.2 percent compared with July’s level, the index’s third-straight monthly loss and largest monthly decline since September 2001. Through eight months, the Freight TSI decreased 2.6 percent compared with the same 2005 period.

August’s Passenger TSI of 108.8 dropped 1.2 percent compared with July’s level. Through eight months, the index declined 0.6 percent.

The TSI is a measure of month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire transportation industries, including rail, air, truck, inland waterways, pipelines and local transit.