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Intermodal traffic increased 1.2% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Container traffic increased 1.6% to 197,833 units, but trailer traffic declined 1.5%, to 32,491 units.

Railroad carloads excluding intermodal dipped 0.3% for the week ended Saturday, to 281,387 units, AAR said in its weekly report.

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 distaat either end of the trip.