Using a Road Freight Price Index (see Figure 7.4) provided by Eurostat,it can be seen that European road freight rates have now surpassed the peak seen in 2008, just prior to the recession-related downturn. It may be slightly surprising, given the second element of the double-dip recession, that rates have not shown renewed weakness. However, industry sources put this down in part to a reduction in capacity seen at the time of the first recession, which has yet to be replaced. Another reason may be the influx of cheap freight operators from Central and Eastern Europe.