Econintersect: Rail traffic YoY growth slightly improved slightly year-over-year in week sixteen of 2011 ending 23 April 2011 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 3.9% year-over-year, while this week it is up a less good 1.4% YoY. The four week moving average declined from 6.1% +5.6% YoY. Year-to-date gains declined from 6.4%to 6.1%.
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 1.4% | 19.4% | (3.7%) | (1.7%) | (3.7%) | (5.3%) | (4.1%) | 2.1% | 6.3% |
Vs. 2009 | 16.5% | 43.6% | 9.5% | (0.2%) | 10.3% | 67.1% | 2.1% | 28.0% | 22.3% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 5.6% | 13.3% | 4.2% | (1.8%) | (1.3%) | 4.3% | (2.1%) | 16.7% | 11.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.9% | 31.4% | 18.8% | 3.2% | 8.9% | 78.5% | 3.8% | 54.1% | 25.8% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.8% | 15.4% | 0.9% | (2.0%) | (3.2%) | 1.9% | (3.2%) | 13.8% | 9.4% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.6% | 33.0% | 16.1% | 3.5% | 7.8% | 76.8% | 3.6% | 54.7% | 25.4% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 6.1% | 5.7% | 6.2% | (4.6%) | 4.9% | 9.6% | 2.5% | 11.9% | 8.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 13.1% | 22.2% | 18.9% | 2.5% | 7.5% | 50.6% | (2.1%) | 46.7% | 19.2% |
source: Railfax