As 2008 came to a close, world markets were in slow-motion freefall, retail spending was off significantly, and overcapacity was the prevailing condition of virtually every transportation mode. Rather than a perfect storm, this represents a perfect break in the weather for shippers who have been battered for months by heavy fuel surcharges and uncertainty as to what modal alternatives to consider.

   Trucking-we expect average trucking prices to fall 3.2% in 2009, ending the year back at price levels last seen in the first quarter of 2008. When demand grows again.
Air—after 2008 bankruptcies cut supply—payback will be swift in 2010. -More data on chartered airfreight prices is being released now and that may help us tune our understanding of price trends in the future.
Water-We're forecasting these U.S. prices will inch up slowly through the rest of the year.
Rail-We saw a cyclical downturn in rail industry prices in 2006–2007 and the 2009 price bust will mirror that one.