US Freight Volume Drops to Lowest Level Since 2009, “Industrial Recession” Hits Full Stride, Overcapacity Crushes Rates

by Wolf Richter
Wolf Street

“We’ve been patiently waiting for the consumer.”

The Cass Freight Index, tracking US shipment volumes by all modes of transportation, fell 3.1% in September from a year ago, the 19th month in a row of year-over-year declines, and the worst September since 2009.

Donald Broughton, Chief Market Strategist at Avondale Partners, wrote in the report:

After offering a glimmer of “less bad” hope in August [the index was down “only” 1.1% year-over-year], the Cass Freight Index shipments data in September disappointed, providing hindsight that August only gave us “false hope.”

September data is once again signaling that overall shipment volumes (and pricing) continued to be weak in most modes, with increased levels of volatility, as all levels of the supply chain (manufacturing, wholesale, retail) continue to try and work down inventory levels.

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