Water

By Daryl Delano -- Logistics Management, 1/1/1998

Average prices for waterborne freight movements have declined for three consecutive months now. The composite inflation index for the sector fell by 0.5 percent in September, October, and November, driven principally by consistent declines in rates for inbound liner service. Mississippi River freight transportation rates receded 5.5 percent during November, following an 8.8-percent price surge the month before. Overall water freight inflation should be about 1 percent this year, following a slight 0.4-percent increase in 1997 average prices.

% CHANGE VS.: 1 month ago 6 mos. ago 1 yr. ago

Inbound liner -1.3 -3.1 -4.4

Outbound liner +3.3 -6.5 -3.2

Domestic deep sea +0.9 -0.1 +0.2

Grt. Lks.-St. Lawrence 0.0 +0.4 +1.4

Mississippi River -5.5 +8.0 -2.3