Econintersect: Rail traffic dropped from 10.7% year-to-date over 2010 levels to 8.2% in the third week of the new year. Year-over-year gains for the third week fell from 6.7% last year to 3.5% this year.
Econintersect monitors rail traffic as one significant measure of the economy. The coming weeks and months will tell what the real growth over 2011 will be. It was in the first quarter of 2010 where the 2010 rail growth spurt hit. This period will allow for true comparisions for a measure of rail industry growth in 2011.
Coal is the major product on USA railroads – and shipments are down slightly YoY.
Total US Rail Traffic
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 3.0% | (5.0%) | 2.8% | 11.8% | (0.6%) | 7.3% | 6.2% |
Vs. 2009 | 7.3% | 11.7% | 17.3% | 0.1% | 3.7% | 40.4% | (3.6%) | 82.0% | 9.2% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 8.2% | 9.4% | 8.8% | (0.9%) | 8.2% | 22.2% | 7.4% | 2.6% | 7.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 7.0% | 19.0% | 23.9% | 5.9% | 8.2% | 48.3% | (7.8%) | 75.6% | 9.0% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 8.2% | 11.1% | 7.0% | (2.2%) | 4.2% | 20.3% | 10.3% | 1.5% | 6.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 6.7% | 22.7% | 20.6% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 48.2% | (6.3%) | 77.7% | 7.8% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 8.2% | 11.1% | 7.0% | (2.2%) | 4.2% | 20.3% | 10.3% | 1.5% | 6.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 6.7% | 22.7% | 20.6% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 48.2% | (6.3%) | 77.7% | 7.8% |