The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), rose 0.3% in April from March, rising for the third consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). From April 2025 to April 2026 the index rose 1.4%. The Freight TSI measures the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry.

Analysis:

The Freight TSI increased in April due to increases in air freight, rail carloads, trucking, and water while rail intermodal and pipeline volumes decreased.

The table below shows Freight TSI and its changes in the context of other important monthly economic indicators. The table shows seasonally adjusted indicators unless noted.

The Freight TSI in Comparison to Other Economic Indicators

Economic Indicator

February

March

April

Freight Transportation Services Index

138.5

139.2

139.6

Percent Change

1.7

0.5

0.3

Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Industrial Production Index

102.1

101.8

102.5

Percent Change

0.6

-0.3

0.7

FRB Manufacturing (percent change)

0.4

0.0

0.6

FRB Mining (percent change)

2.3

-1.6

-0.1

FRB Utilities (percent change)

0.4

-1.4

1.9

Housing Starts (thousands of units)

1,346.0

1,507.0

1,465.0

Percent Change

-2.8

12.0

-2.8

Retail Sales: Retail Trade (millions of nominal dollars)

641,038.0

653,040.0

NA

Percent Change

1.0

1.9

NA

Personal Income (billions of chained 2017 dollars)

20,529.9

20,495.7

20,414.1

Percent Change

-0.4

-0.2

-0.4

Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing
Index (percent)
(50+ = expansion)

52.4

52.7

52.7

Percentage Point Change

-0.2

0.3

0.0