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In July, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached 113.4, up 0.8 percent compared with June's level and 3.1 percent compared with July 2007's index, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

A measure of month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire freight and passenger transportation industries, the TSI also posted a year-over-year gain for the seven-month period ending July 31.

July's Freight TSI of 112.9 rose 1.2 percent from June's level, registering a gain for the fourth-consecutive month. A measure of the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire rail, trucking, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight companies, the index also increased 4.1 percent compared with July 2007's level.

During 2008's first seven months, the Freight TSI rose 4.2 percent — the largest seven-month gain since 2002.

July's Passenger TSI of 116.3 declined 0.5 percent vs. June's level. However, the measure of the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by for-hire air, local transit and intercity rail providers inched up 0.1 percent compared with July 2007's index.

Through seven months, the Passenger TSI declined on a year-over-year basis for the first time since 2003.