Noatum Logistics Completes Acquisition of the Multinational MIQ Logistics. Read more.

Resources

Contact an Expert

September 2013 Industry News

“Following moderate growth in the last few months, the U.S. LEI picked up in July, with widespread gains among its components. The pace of the LEI’s growth over the last six months has nearly doubled, pointing to a gradually strengthening expansion through the end of the year. In July, average workweek in manufacturing was the weakest component.”

– Ataman Ozyildirim Economist at the Conference Board

US Economic Chart September 2013

Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Report on Business

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector increased in August.

  • 50 represents the dividing line between expansion and contraction for the index of the below chart; which covers the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and new orders.
  • The PMI reading increased to 55.7% in August, which is 0.3 percentage points higher than July’s reading of 55.4%.
  • New Orders increased in August by 4.9% to reach 63.2% on the index.

August 2013 Manufacturing ISM Data

Expanding Manufacturing Industries
  1. Textile Mills
  2. Wood Products
  3. Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components
  4. Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products
  5. Non-Metallic Mineral Products
  6. Plastics & Rubber Products
  7. Computer & Electronic Components
  8. Printing & Related Support Activities
  9. Furniture & Related Products
  10. Primary Metals
  11. Fabricated Metal Products
  12. Transportation Equipment
  13. Machinery
  14. Chemical Products
  15. Paper Products

Contracting Manufacturing Industries

  1. Miscellaneous Manufacturing

U.S. GDP

US GDP Timeline September 2013

  • On August 29th the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released their second quarter (second estimate) of U.S. GDP (real gross domestic product – the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the U.S.).  The findings were that the U.S. GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.5% in the second quarter of 2013; this is up from the original estimate of 1.7%
  • According to the BEA this increase in real GDP in the second quarter was attributed to “positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), exports, private inventory investment, nonresidential fixed investment, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a negative contribution from federal government spending.”
  • In a report from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) on July 9th, the forecast for U.S. growth is projected to rise 1 ¾ percent in 2013, and 2 ¾ percent in 2014. “The projections assume that the sequestration will remain in place until 2014, longer than previously projected, although the pace of fiscal consolidation will still slow.  Private demand should remain solid, giving rising household wealth owing to the housing recovery, and still supportive financial conditions”.
  • The Conference Board released an updated U.S. Economic Forecast on August 14th, with GDP projected for the next three quarters as 2.3%, 2.7%, and 3% respectively.

Transportation Market Update

Truckload Index Category Monthly Reading Previous Monthly Reading Trend Direction
American Trucking Association (SA) seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck tonnage 125.4 125.9 – 0.4% decreasing
Cass Freight Index Report (Shipments) 1.126 1.107 – 2.3% decreasing
Cass Freight Index Report (Expenditures) 2.448 2.484 – 1.5% decreasing
Freight Transportation Services Index 113.8 114.3 – 1.2% decreasing
Trucking Employment 0 jobs added + 400 jobs No Change
  •  “After gaining a total of 2.2% in May and June, it isn’t surprising that tonnage slipped a little in July,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “The decrease corresponds with the small decline in manufacturing output during July reported by the Federal Reserve last week.”
  •  “Despite the small reprieve in July, we expect solid tonnage numbers during the second half of the year as sectors that generate heavy freight, like oil and gas and autos, continue with robust growth,” Costello said. “Home construction generates a significant amount of tonnage, but as mortgage rates and home prices rise, growth in housing starts will decelerate slightly in the second half of the year, but still be a positive for truck freight volumes. Tonnage gains in the second half of the year are likely to overstate the strength in the economy as these heavy freight sectors continue to outperform the economy overall.”

Global Market Update

Recent Statements from National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates

  • “Merchants have been very cautious so far this year, but our forecast show that they plan to make up for it in the next few months,” –  Jonathan Gold, NRF’s V.P. for Supply Chain and Customs Policy.
  • “Ben Hackett, head of Hackett Associates, said trade activity at the ports has been tracking the slow-but-steady economic recovery in the United States. Hackett said, however, that is unclear if importers are now adding inventories ahead of expected holiday sales demand or to beat recently announced carrier rate increases heading into the peak shipping period.”
US Import Cargo Volume August 2013

Transpacific Eastbound

4Q13 TPEB Bunker Levels Announced: Effective 10/1/13-12/31/13

Container Type 20′ 40′ 40′ HC 45″
TPEB Lanes to West Coast $424.00 $530.00 $596.00 $671.00
TPEB to East & Gulf Coast $780.00 $975.00 $1097.00 $1234.00
TPEB to Inland Points $706.00 $883.00 $993.00 $1118.00

*Note: There is a possible 10/15/13 TPEB GRI that MIQ Logistics is monitoring.

Transpacific Westbound

  • “Ocean cargo carriers comprising the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) Westbound section contend that there is an “urgent need” to begin rate restoration efforts in anticipation of fourth quarter cargo growth”
  • “Member carriers have announced plans to raise freight rates, for all commodities and from all U.S. origin points by at least $100.00 per 40-foot container (FEU) by no later than October 1, 2013”.

SOURCES

Domestic & Global Economy

U.S. GDP Forecast

Truckload Capacity & Volumes

Global Market Update