Econintersect: Rail traffic YoY growth slightly improved year-over-year in week fifteen of 2011 ending 16 April according to Railfax.
The biggest post-recession growth in rail traffic occurred in the 1st quarter of 2010 – and year-over-year comparisons are increasingly compared to larger base data. Performance year to date for 2011 has been very strong, in spite of the weakening growth rate.
Last week rail traffic was up 6.2% year-over-year, while this week it is up a less good 3.9% YoY. The four week moving average is +6.1% YoY. Year-to-date gains declined to 6.4%.
The data details:
Total US Rail Traffic
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.9% | 11.0% | 3.9% | 1.4% | (1.1%) | 1.1% | (3.4%) | 12.5% | 9.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.7% | 24.2% | 13.0% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 69.6% | 5.4% | 67.7% | 25.8% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 6.1% | 9.6% | 8.3% | (3.0%) | 1.5% | 5.0% | (1.2%) | 19.5% | 11.7% |
Vs. 2009 | 20.5% | 27.8% | 23.5% | 3.4% | 8.6% | 69.6% | 6.7% | 58.7% | 24.8% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 5.0% | 13.4% | 3.3% | (2.2%) | (3.0%) | 6.0% | (2.7%) | 20.2% | 11.1% |
Vs. 2009 | 21.1% | 28.1% | 19.6% | 5.4% | 6.5% | 82.1% | 4.3% | 71.2% | 27.0% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 6.4% | 4.9% | 6.9% | (4.8%) | 5.6% | 10.9% | 2.9% | 12.6% | 9.0% |
Vs. 2009 | 12.9% | 21.0% | 19.5% | 2.7% | 7.3% | 49.5% | (2.3%) | 48.1% | 19.0% |
source: Railfax