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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