If economists and central bankers had a “Public Enemy” category, like INTERPOL or the FBI do, inflation would undoubtedly be elected the No. 1 enemy of the people.
The U.S. economy adds 678,000 payroll jobs in February.
•Crude, diesel prices soar in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
•Retail inventories see another solid increase.
•The surge in new trucking companies continues in February.
•Volatility is the order of the day for rail volumes.
It is widely known that there is a shortage of semiconductors on a global scale that is affecting production in a host of industries. Goldman Sachs says 169 industries are affected by the crunch. The poster child for the shortage seems to be the global auto manufacturing industry, where lost production affects tens of thousands of workers and a great deal of lost revenue.
2021 was a challenge for the intermodal industry. Coming off the pandemic-dented 2020, 2021 dawned with the promise and hope of better consistency and growth for intermodal and the supply chain in general.
TRUCKING: Trucking conditions improve, but they might have finally peaked.
RAILCAR: Carload volumes are being held back by four main commodities to start 2022.
INTERMODAL: International volumes remained weak in December and face near-term headwinds to growth in 2022.
SHIPPERS: Fuel costs are proving to be the difference between tough and really tough market conditions.
We provide in-depth market analysis and forecasting in our Truck & Trailer Outlook intelligence service.
You ask. FTR Experts answer.
