The overall price index for haulage and courier services rose by 1 point to 119.9, following a smaller increase in February. Courier prices increased by 0.9 points, while haulage prices were up by 1.2 points month-on-month.
“The expected March surge has occurred, albeit slightly later than in 2024,” the report states, noting that Easter fell at the end of March this year, pushing the seasonal uptick forward compared to previous years.
Despite the recent rise, prices remain lower year-on-year. The March 2025 index is 1.3 points below March 2024 and 1.6 points below the same month in 2023. Courier prices, however, bucked this trend and are now 2.3 points higher than in March 2024, whereas haulage prices are 4.9 points lower year-on-year.
Carrier availability has also increased significantly. TEG reports that the number of available carriers was 31% higher in March 2025 than in the same month last year, following a 35% year-on-year increase in February. The organisation attributes this to more operators returning to the market and greater availability of vehicles.
This rebound in capacity could signal a shift in market dynamics, with more hauliers actively competing for contracts. “With more operators returning to the market and more vehicles becoming available, capacity continues to rise,” TEG observed.
Consumer confidence also showed a modest improvement in March. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose by two points to -19 — still negative, but higher than the lows seen in 2022 and 2023. TEG suggests that this “cautious optimism may be contributing to increased movement of goods and services, which in turn could influence pricing trends.”
Looking ahead, the index is expected to rise again in April, when the full impact of Easter demand will be reflected in the data. However, medium-term pricing developments remain uncertain and will depend on broader economic indicators, including inflation and interest rate decisions.
