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Intermodal traffic jumped 25.1% last week compared with the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

Traffic for the week ended Christmas Day totaled 177,249 units, led by container traffic, which rose 24.2% to 148,955 units. Trailers jumped 29.9% to 28,294 units.

The gain was due in part to Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, AAR said. Last year, it was on a Friday.

U.S. railroads originated 256,098 carloads for the week, up 29.3% from a year ago, AAR said in its weekly report Wednesday.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.