The following is from the 30 November 2010 edition of the "The Journal of Commerce".

Comeback from recession falls below 2008 level

Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico totaled $68.3 billion in September, up 19.3 percent from a year earlier, the Transportation Department reported.

Despite the increase, the value of surface-transportation trade between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners was 4.8 percent below levels of September 2008, when the financial crisis hit.

September’s total was up 0.5 percent from August. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.

In September, 86.9 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved by truck, rail and pipeline.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $40.2 billion in September, up 15.7 percent compared to September 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 10.7 percent higher in September 2010 compared to September 2009, while the value of exports carried by truck was 17.4 percent higher during this period.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $28.1 billion in September, up 24.8 percent compared to September 2009. The value of imports carried by truck was 23.3 percent higher in September 2010 than September 2009 while the value of exports carried by truck was 20.7 percent higher.