Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Increases in U.S. Commercial Freight Shipments and Related Growth Factors, 1993–2002

The high rate of growth of retail and wholesale activities in the United States in the 1990s suggests a substantial commodification of the economy and a new commercial environment where the consumer plays a greater role. Estimates place personal consumption accounting for about 70% of the GDP. While the population increased by about 11% over that decade, retail sales increased by 62%, twice the growth of the GDP. Distribution activities have been organized to cope with this growth of the demand, which has been accompanied by a growth of the value of freight shipments (value added products) and the average haul distance.

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