Transport sector cost pressures continue to ease as activity weakens

Transport sector cost pressures continued to ease as activity weakened in the March 2024 quarter according to National Road Carriers Association’s (NRC) cost index tool collated by economics consultancy Infometrics.

Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan said diesel prices were 3.5% lower than in the December 2023 quarter, while finance costs edged lower for the second consecutive quarter. Labour costs recorded their smallest quarterly increase in more than three years, at just 0.4%, and there were signs of moderating pressures across most other cost categories.