Cass Freight Index

Rates red hot in August, shipments high but capacity constrained

Supply chain headwinds to continue for a while, according to Cass

August data from Cass Information Systems shows a sequential surge in expenditures, a proxy for freight rates, with shipments stepping higher as well. The year-over-year comparisons for both subindexes were materially higher again.

Freight rates up and to the right

The expenditures component of the Cass Freight Index (NASDAQ: CASS) jumped 11.3% from July on a seasonally adjusted basis, 42.2% higher year-over-year. Roughly 90% of the increase in the index was tied to higher freight rates. Compared...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rates-red-hot-in-august-shipments-high-but-capacity-constrained

Freight costs high again in July; ‘bottlenecks’ hamper shipments

Transportation industry suffers from too much of a good thing

Labor challenges and equipment “bottlenecks” throughout the supply chain limited freight shipments in July but costs surged again, largely due to those capacity headwinds, according to data released by Cass Information Systems Thursday.

The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index (NASDAQ: CASS) declined 3.1% (seasonally adjusted) from June but remained 15.6% higher year-over-year and 0.5% higher than July 2019. Part of the decline was due to weaker rail shipments as chassis shortages...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-costs-high-again-in-july-bottlenecks-hamper-shipments

Freight costs see June surge; ‘tougher comps’ coming

The large year-over-year increases in Cass data continue during June

Freight expenditures surged in June, according to data provided by Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) on Monday.

The expenditures component of the Cass Freight Index increased 56.4% year-over-year and was 11% higher than the May reading (9.4% higher sequentially on a seasonally adjusted basis). The month marked the fastest year-over-year growth rate on record for the subindex, besting the near-50% increase logged in May.

While the comparisons are distorted by a precipitous drop in demand due...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-costs-see-june-surge-tougher-comps-coming

Freight boom barrels through May, Cass reports

Highest-ever growth rates recorded in shipments and expenditures indexes

Data released Friday from Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) shows the freight industry advanced at a blistering pace during May. The Cass Freight Index logged the highest-ever growth rates in the shipments and expenditures components of the dataset’s more than 30-year history.

The May report showed the shipments index jumped 35.3% higher year-over-year. While the comparisons reflect year-ago demand weakness as large parts of the nation and economy remained under lockdown, the index...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-boom-barrels-through-may-cass-reports

April freight trends jump, 2021 to be ‘extraordinarily strong year’

Cass data to remain strong through at least third quarter

Shipments and expenditures surged again in April, according to data released by Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) on Wednesday.

The Cass Freight Index returned a 27.6% year-over-year increase in shipments with the expenditures component of the index jumping 45.1%. The comparisons to the prior year reflect widespread quarantine mandates that brought the economy to a temporary halt.

The year-over-year growth rate for shipments was a new record, outpacing the rate of recovery seen following...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/april-freight-trends-jump-2021-to-be-extraordinarily-strong-year

Shipments up, freight spend way up — Cass reports

The freight surge continues

Freight expenditures surged with another step higher in volumes, according to March data released by Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) on Friday. The Cass Freight Index posted cycle highs with the expenditures’ subindex displaying a new record.

The proxy for freight payments was 27.5% higher year-over-year and 7.9% higher than February. This was the third all-time high recorded in the dataset over the past four months. The report said that the increase in the overall index was equally...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shipments-up-freight-spend-way-up-cass-reports

February weather only temporary impediment to freight cycle: Cass

Cass data set to accelerate through second quarter

February data from Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) shows the impact winter storms had on freight markets during the month.

February speed bump will give way to larger increases

The shipments subindex increased 4.1% year-over-year, up 1.8% sequentially. The year-over-year growth rate for the month was less than half that recorded in January. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index came in 3.2% lower sequentially.

“This slowdown reflects both the short-term weather effects and likely...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/february-weather-only-temporary-impediment-to-freight-cycle-cass

‘Improved’ inventories still lagging sales growth; tailwind for trucking

Retail inventories still challenged

The nation’s largest retailers are painting a more constructive picture on inventories. On a sequential comparison, merchandise levels have continued to recover from the widespread stockouts seen in the early days of the pandemic. But record demand throughout the summer, fall and holiday buying season have inventories still in need of significant replenishment, which is a favorable catalyst for trucking demand.

A look at the retail sector’s recent earnings reports showed that sales outpaced...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/improved-inventories-still-lagging-sales-growth;-tailwind-for-trucking

Rates surge, no ‘significant rate relief’ in 2021, Cass says

Cass Freight Index jumps in January

Data released Thursday by Cass Information Systems (NASDAQ: CASS) highlighted advances in the company’s shipments and expenditures indexes during January. The shipments component increased 8.6% year-over-year with the expenditures index surging 19.5%.

The data showed shipments improved 3% from December on a seasonally adjusted basis, which was the largest move since September.

“This acceleration takes us another step closer to the strong growth environment which we expect to continue in 2021, due...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rates-surge-no-significant-rate-relief-in-2021-cass-says

Cass shipments data dips in November as pandemic worsens

Cass shipments data reverses in November

Cass announced Thursday that the November freight shipments index recorded a second consecutive month of year-over-year gains, up 2.7%, with the expenditures index remaining above prior-year levels for the third straight month, up 5.7%.

However, the shipments dataset dipped 2.2% from October, down 1% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The sequential decline was the first since April, “likely due to the worsening pandemic numbers impacting the trajectory of the recovery,” according to the author,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cass-shipments-data-dips-in-november-as-pandemic-worsens

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