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Intermodal Traffic Rises 0.2% for Week
U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 0.2% to 231,648 units last week over the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
Year-to-date, intermodal trafficÌýhas risenÌý5% to 3.3 million units over the same period last year.
Railroad carloads rose 3.7% to 231,648 units for the week, according to AAR.
Eight of the 10 carload groups posted increases, compared with the same week last year, led by a 52.9% jump in petroleum products. However, grain carloads dropped 14.2% and metallic ores and metals carloads declined 9.9%.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-value merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for shorter distances at either end of the trip.
