Transportation Indicators
Highlights - August 2001
NOTE: The final issue of this report was December 2002. These reports are provided
as a historical reference. A minimal number of indicators are being updated in the
White House Economic Statistics Briefing Room.
Highlights
File Formats
Unused seat-miles in domestic commercial
aviation measured 15 percent higher in May 2001 than in May 2000,
while unused ton-miles in domestic air freight increased 11 percent.
Over 75 percent of flights by major U.S.
air carriers arrived on time (within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival
time) in June 2001, compared to 66 percent in June 2000.
Inland waterway commercial tonnage was
4 percent lower in July 2001 compared to July 2000, largely due to
a 6 percent decline in petroleum and chemical shipments.
Manufacturers’ new orders for transportation
equipment declined more than 3 percent between May and June 2001,
while new orders for all manufacturing declined 2 percent.
U.S. businesses spent 13 percent less
(in inflation adjusted terms) on transportation equipment in
the second quarter of 2001 compared to the second quarter of 2000.
Retail sales of heavy/medium trucks were 30
percent lower in July 2001 than in July 2000; car sales were 10 percent
lower. Light truck sales declined slightly— about 1 percent.
The validity of these statements has not been statistically
tested. BTS is designing a statistical monitoring process in order to
apply statistical quality control techniques to the indicators data.
