Volumes

From February to March, the report observed that U.S.-bound container import volumes eked out a 0.4% increase, to 2,145,341 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), while posting a 15.7% annual gain, ahead of pre-pandemic 2019 by 20.6%. Descartes explained that the timing of the week-long Lunar New Year in Asia, which commenced on February 11 may have held import growth back, as the subsequent impact on U.S. import numbers was not realized until the last two weeks of March.

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 3.3, marking a 3% decline December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3. October had topped September's 4.3 by 2%, with FTR saying at the time reflected the most favorable market conditions for shippers since June 2023.

February’s shipment reading, at 1.115, saw a 4.5% annual decrease, and February expenditures, at 3.225, were down 19.8% annually.

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell 3.5% in January, to 111.0 (2015=100), following a 1.2% December gain.

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, for December, at 115.7 (2015=100), was up 2.1%, following 1.2% November decline.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 4.3.

November’s shipment reading, at 1.094, was down 8.9% annually, less steep than October’s 9.5% annual decrease, and November expenditures, at 3.331, were off 25.6% annually, topping October’s 23.3% annual decline, while falling 1.3%, from October to November.

The decrease in consumer spending, which, as we all know, drives roughly 70% (give or take) of all economic activity, was a key theme in a blog posting recently issued by National Retail Federation (NRF) Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, in the NRF’s Monthly Economic Review. The key thesis made by Kleinhenz was that even though U.S. consumers are buying more than they were a year ago at this time, growth in spending is slowing down, as does the economy...

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, for May, came in at 115.4 (2015=100), for a 2.4% increase, following decreases of 1.7% and 2.8%, in April and March, respectively.

For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI fell to -5.17, below January’s -1.71 reading. This was preceded by December’s -6.1 and November’s -7.94. That was preceded by October’s -11.25, its lowest level since the April 2020 all-time low, at -28.66. The September TCI reading came in at -2.35.

For the month of January, Descartes noted that U.S. container volumes—at 2,068,943 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were up 7.2% compared to December’s 1,929,032 TEU, which were down 1.3% compared to November, and its largest December to January increase in the last six years. While volume saw a sequential gain, they were down 16.1% annually, with the caveat that this tally was only 0.3% below a pre-pandemic January 2019. The report also noted that even though the Lunar New Year was in January, the subsequent...

The report’s shipment index value—at 124.6—increased 1.5% compared to the second quarter (down from a 4.4% growth rate, from the first quarter to the second quarter) and increased 2.4% annually. On a year-to-date basis, through the first three quarters of 2021, shipments are up 1.1% annually. And the third quarter freight spend reading—at 246.8—was up 5.6% compared to the first quarter (down from a 10.1% increase, from the first quarter to the second quarter) and saw a 32.6% annual increase.

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index for September—at 112.9 (2015=100)—headed up 2.4%, following a 0.3% August increase (downwardly revised from an original reading of 0.5%). On a year-to-date basis through September, SA tonnage is flat. ATA said that this index is comprised mainly of contract freight rather than spot market freight.

The new offering, entitled Market Rate IQ, was created by the company’ technology incubator, C.H. Robinson Labs, and company officials said that it is the only tool that highlights to shippers which factors in their United States spot pricing are market-driven and which ones are outside of their control. What’s more, it explained that it is the lone tool incorporating DAT’s RateView, a database comprised of U.S. spot freight lanes.

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index for May—at 113.7 (2015=100)—was off 0.7%, following a 12.2% April decline and a 5.1% March decline.