The Transportation Satellite Accounts (TSAs) provide a means for measuring the contribution of transportation services to the national economy. Prior to the TSAs, the magnitude of transportation services had long been underestimated, as most national measures counted only the value of for-hire services. Measurement of services provided only by for-hire firms misses the sizable contribution of transportation services that take place within nontransportation industries, termed as in-house transportation. To more accurately measure transportation services, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics...

After successive years of decline in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks, there was a substantial rebound in U.S. international travel in 2004, with most travel categories experiencing growth from 2003. The U.S. outbound travel market grew by 12 percent in 2004 over 2003 totals, with an all time record high number of U.S. visitors (27.4 million) traveling to overseas countries. U.S. residents spent nearly $66 billion on their foreign travel, while foreign residents spent over $74 billion on travel in the United States in 2004. Thus, the U.S. trade balance in travel was positive-almost...

The U.S. marine transportation system continues to handle large volumes of domestic and international freight in support of the nation's economic activities. The demand for freight transportation responds to trends in global economic activity and merchandise trade. When U.S. businesses produce more goods, the demand for freight transportation services to move raw materials and finished products to markets and customers around the country and world will increase. When economic conditions result in less production, the demand for transportation services will decrease. This report provides an...