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December 11, 2006 2:45 PM, EST

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merican Trucking Associations’ seasonally adjusted truck tonnage index fell 1.9% in October, more than an earlier 1.8% reading, the group said late Friday.

ATA had released the preliminary reading in late November. (Click here for previous coverage.)

The decline put the seasonally adjusted index at a reading 110.8, its lowest reading in seven months. The not seasonally adjusted index gained 4.7% from September through October, raising that reading to 117.6.

“Despite a rather mediocre October report, most retailers remain upbeat about the 2006 holiday sales season,” ATA said in its report. “Early reports indicate that 2006 holiday sales got off to a good start in November [and] the National Retail Federation is still projecting sales to increase 5% over last year’s holiday season.”

ATA’s economics department calculates the monthly index based on surveys of its members.