The U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index—a tool designed to assess the current state of the freight industry in the United States—showed signs of a spending rebound compared to the third quarter in 2018, with indications growth will continue, but at a slower rate in 2019, the company found.
Solid holiday sales, increases in wages and employment, and better-than-expected container volumes into West Coast ports contributed to the rebound, according to Bob Costello, a freight industry analyst and chief economist for the American Trucking Associations. Costello found that higher shipping and spending volumes into West Coast ports were likely a result of companies ordering their imports from China earlier than usual, as tariffs on many goods were expected to rise from 10% to 25% in early 2019. Many shippers had already imported products in the last quarter of 2018 to avoid paying the higher rate in the new year.
“The nice rebound from the slower third quarter shows that the current economic growth cycle is not at risk of ending soon,” said Costello. “However, the indexes still indicate that trucking, as well as the broader economy, should expect decelerating growth rates in the quarters ahead due to tariff tax increases, driver shortages and possible interest rate hikes.”
The Northeast saw an increase in shipments and spending in the last quarter of 2018, which can be attributed to holiday sales volumes in this population dense region. The Midwest, Southeast and Southwest regions had declines in shipments due to a variety of factors such as lower than expected construction activities and predictions of moderate auto production in 2019. Specific regional data can be found in the index.
