Water

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 5/1/1999

For the past three quarters, inflation in prices charged to move freight by water has easily outpaced the general U.S. inflation rate. In the third quarter of 1998, water transportation rates rose 3.8% above year-ago levels. By the fourth quarter of 1998, they were rising at a rate of 3.1%. And by 1999's first quarter, rates were rising by 2.9%. Ocean rates may be higher now as ship lines try to bolster their pricing before a North Atlantic Agreement is signed.

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

Inbound liner +4.2 -9.6 +13.5

Outbound liner -0.3 -6.3 -3.0

Domestic deep sea +1.1 +0.1 +2.8

Grt. Lks.-St. Lawrence 0.0 +0.2 +0.7

Mississippi River -2.1 -10.4 +5.2