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The Transportation Services Index (TSI) reached 112.4 in May, rising 1.1 percent compared with April and registering its third consecutive monthly gain, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The TSI’s last three-month winning streak occurred in September, October and November 2004.

During 2006’s first five months, the index increased 1.7 percent — the third-straight January-to-May gain but smallest since 2003.

May’s Freight TSI of 113.2 rose 1.9 percent compared with April and 0.4 percent compared with May 2005. The index registered its sixth consecutive year-over-year gain in May but smallest since 2000. Through five months of 2006, the Freight TSI rose 2 percent compared with 2005’s first five months.

May’s Passenger TSI of 110.2 decreased 0.3 percent compared with April, ending a two-month winning streak. However, the index rose 0.1 percent compared with May 2005 for its third consecutive year-over-year gain in the month yet smallest since 2003. Through five months, the Passenger TSI rose 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.