Shipments

November’s shipment reading—at 1.201­—was down 0.4% annually, falling short of the 2.9% and 4.8% annual gains seen in October and September, respectively. November expenditures—at 4.476—increased 4.7%, below October’s 11.1% annual increase and was up 50.7% on a two-year stacked change basis.

October’s shipment reading—at 1.224—saw a 2.9% annual gain, falling short of the September’s 4.8% annual increase and was also below August’s 1.278 reading, which marked the highest level for shipments since May 2018. On the expenditures side, the report said that October’s 4.399 reading marked an 11.1% annual increase, and rose 52.4% on a two-year stacked change basis

The report’s third quarter shipment index value—at 118.5—was down 2.6% compared to the second quarter and was down 4.9% annually, marking the steepest annual decline going back to the first quarter of 2021. Third quarter spend was mostly down across the board, from the second quarter to the third quarter, with a 0.8% decline out West, a 5.3% decline in the Midwest and a 1.4% decrease in the Northeast, a 0.1% decrease in the Southeast, and a 1.7% increase in the Southwest. Annually, spend saw an 11.6%...

September’s shipment reading—at 1.241—rose 4.8% annually, and freight expenditures—at 4.627—climbed 21.2% annually.

Company officials said DHL invested $22 million into this new location, adding that the new location increases shipment capacity, enables faster shipment processing, and provides earlier customer deliveries.

The report’s second quarter shipment index value—at 121.6—was up 2.3% compared to the first quarter and essentially flat annually, down 0.9%. On the freight spend side, the index—at 279.6—was up 3.3% compared to the first quarter, while also posting a 19.7% annual gain.

June’s shipment reading—at 1.203—fell 2.3% annually, and June expenditures—at 4.665—rose 25.0% annually, slightly below May’s 27.5% annual gain.

May’s shipment reading—at 1.235—fell 2.7% annually, which was steeper than April’s 0.5% annual decline. And May expenditures—at 4.287—were up 27.5% annually, in line with April’s 30.6% annual gain and continuing to be paced by major inflation gains.

DHL 2022 Mid-Year SME Survey based on feedback from more than 4,000 U.S.-based SMEs, including DHL customers.

April’s shipment reading—at 1.172—saw a slim 0.5% increase, and April expenditures—at 4.510—saw a 30.6 annual gain, spurred on by a near 40-year high, for inflation.

March’s shipment reading—at 1.203—eked out a 0.6% annual increase, down 3.0% from February’s 3.6% annual increase and ahead of January’s 2.9% annual decline.

Total February U.S.-bound containerized freight imports—at 2,528,809 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were down 5.5% compared to January and up 6.9% annually. And for U.S.-bound shipments, Panjiva reported that February shipments—at 1,234,197—were off 7.7% compared to January and up 17.7% annually. On a year-to-date basis, shipments—at 2,571,891—are up 15.06% compared to the first two months of 2021 and imports—at 5,206,073—are up 2.66%, for the same period.

Total January U.S.-bound containerized freight imports—at 2,669,536 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were down 0.2% compared to December and down 1.37% annually. And for U.S.-bound shipments, Panjiva reported that January shipments—at 1,330,698—were off 0.5% compared to December and up 12.12% annually.

January’s shipment reading—at 1.078—fell 2.9% annually, coming off of a 7.7% annual gain in December. And January expenditures—at 4.027—saw a 31.2% annual increase, in tandem with U.S. wholesale inflation up 9.7% annually for the month, as per U.S. Department of Labor data.

The report’s shipment index value—at 121.6—was off 2.4%, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, and was down 5.1% annually. For calendar year 2021, shipments fell 0.5% annually and were down 4.5% when compared to 2019. The fourth quarter freight spend reading—at 267.5—saw an 8.4% gain, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, and it was up 20.2% annually, marking its highest reading on record,