# Indexing the Annual Operating Revenues of Railroads
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is publishing the annual inflation- adjusted index factors for 2016. These factors are used by the railroads to adjust their gross annual operating revenues for classification purposes. This indexing methodology ensures that railroads are classified based on real business expansion and not on the effects of inflation. Classification is important because it determines the extent to which individual railroads must comply with STB reporting requirements.
The STB's annual inflation-adjusted factors are based on the annual average Railroad Freight Price Index developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The STB's deflator factor is used to deflate revenues for comparison with established revenue thresholds.
The base year for railroads is 1991. The inflation index factors are presented as follows:
| Year | Index | Deflator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1991 | 409.50 | 100.00 |
| 1992 | 411.80 | 99.45 |
| 1993 | 415.50 | 98.55 |
| 1994 | 418.80 | 97.70 |
| 1995 | 418.17 | 97.85 |
| 1996 | 417.46 | 98.02 |
| 1997 | 419.67 | 97.50 |
| 1998 | 424.54 | 96.38 |
| 1999 | 423.01 | 96.72 |
| 2000 | 428.64 | 95.45 |
| 2001 | 436.48 | 93.73 |
| 2002 | 445.03 | 91.92 |
| 2003 | 454.33 | 90.03 |
| 2004 | 473.41 | 86.40 |
| 2005 | 522.41 | 78.29 |
| 2006 | 567.34 | 72.09 |
| 2007 | 588.30 | 69.52 |
| 2008 | 656.78 | 62.28 |
| 2009 | 619.73 | 66.00 |
| 2010 | 652.29 | 62.71 |
| 2011 | 708.80 | 57.71 |
| 2012 | 740.61 | 55.23 |
| 2013 | 764.19 | 53.53 |
| 2014 | 778.41 | 52.55 |
| 2015 | 749.22 | 54.60 |
| 2016 | 732.38 | 55.85 |
*Effective Date:* January 1, 2016.
*For Further Information Contact:* Pedro Ramirez 202-245-0333. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339]
By the Board, William Brennan, Acting Director, Office of Economics.
Tammy Lowery,
Clearance Clerk.