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In 2006, the Transportation Services Index (TSI) totaled 110.1, a 0.4 percent decrease compared with 2005’s level — the index’s first annual decline since 2001, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The Freight TSI of 108.4 dropped 2.3 percent but the Passenger TSI of 112.4 rose 2.7 percent, continuing a string of five-straight annual gains.

In the fourth quarter, the TSI fell 0.2 percent — the index’s second-consecutive quarterly drop. The Freight TSI declined 1 percent and Passenger TSI increased 1.5 percent compared with third-quarter 2006.

In December, the TSI totaled 110.1, a 0.9 percent increase compared with November’s index but 0.4 percent decrease compared with December 2005’s TSI. The index, which dropped in November, hasn’t increased in consecutive months since November 2004.

December’s Freight TSI of 108.4 rose 0.8 percent compared with November’s level but declined 2.3 percent compared with December 2005’s index. The Passenger TSI of 112.4 increased 1.2 percent compared with November’s level and 2.7 percent compared with December 2005’s index.

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.