Category Archives: Transport

April 2013 Sea Container Counts Are Still Contracting

Written by Steven Hansen For the second month in a row, both import and export container counts are contracting year-over-year – comparing same months in 2012 and 2013. Economically intuitive imports however are “less bad” (but are still growing year-to-date); … Continue reading

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Economic Warning Signals in March 2013 Sea Container Counts

Written by Steven Hansen Last month, container counts were showing a significant surge (in imports and exports) – suggesting that economic growth MAY actually be showing signs of life. What a difference one month makes. Economically intuitive imports have collapsed … Continue reading

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A Blowout in February 2013 Sea Container Counts

Written by Steven Hansen February container counts are showing a significant surge in imports and exports – suggesting that economic growth MAY actually be showing signs of life. There is little question that imports and exports in cumulative were “more … Continue reading

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January 2013 Sea Container Counts Still Show Slow Growing Economy

Written by Steven Hansen This January 2013 container data is the first clean month of data following a strike in late November and early December 2012. And the data shows marginal year-over-year export growth, and import year-over-year growth at over … Continue reading

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December 2012 Sea Container Counts Foretell Slow Growing Economy

Written by Steven Hansen This month’s container data is tainted as the busiest ports in the USA (Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles) were on strike between 27 November and 04 December. Although the ports were … Continue reading

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Rail Traffic in December 2012 Projects a Slowly Growing Economy

Written by Steven Hansen Depending on how you view the data, using rail to analyze the economy presents a mixed picture in December 2012.  Rail becomes a transporter of commodities early in the manufacturing cycle, and its intermodal movements (usually … Continue reading

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November 2012 Sea Container Counts Affected by Strike

Written by Steven Hansen This month’s container data will not enlighten as the busiest ports in the USA (Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles) were on strike between 27 November and 04 December.  Although the ports … Continue reading

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Rail Traffic Stronger in November 2012

Written by Steven Hansen The variations and special situations associated with rail traffic continue.  In the November 2012 Association of American Railroads (AAR) report talks about one of the wobbles in this month’s data. As of November 2012, year-over-year U.S. … Continue reading

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October 2012 Sea Container Counts May Be Showing Improving Economy

Written by Steven Hansen October 2012 shows the second monthly year-over-year improvement in imports following 3 months contraction for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach – and the first month of year-over-year gain in exports following three months … Continue reading

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Rail Data in October 2012 Shows Economy Is Softening

Written by Steven Hansen The October 2012 rail data overall trend shows transport is weakening. Even the growth in intermodal traffic continues to show lower growth, and is no longer growing at a record pace. ….. Intermodal volume in October … Continue reading

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September 2012 Sea Container Counts Show Slightly Expanding Economy

Written by Steven Hansen For the first time in 3 months imports improved year-over-year for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach – however, exports contracted for the third month in a row year-over-year. traffic has been pulsing for … Continue reading

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Rail Movements Present a Mixed Picture in September 2012

Written by Steven Hansen The September 2012 rail data can be read several ways, but the overall trend seems to show transport is weakening.  Even the growth in the “hottest” portion of rail was not as good as previous months, … Continue reading

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August 2012 Sea Container Count Decline Continues

Written by Steven Hansen Strike Two.  Both Import and Export container traffic has contracted year-over-year for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for the second month in a row in August 2012. traffic has been pulsing for most … Continue reading

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August 2012 Rail Movements: Economic Intuitive Elements Improve

Written by Steven Hansen Based on the July 2012 rail data, we warned that the economy could be at a pivot point based on declining economic intuitive elements of the rail data – and now with the August data, the … Continue reading

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July 2012 Sea Container Counts Show the Economy is Struggling

Written by Steven Hansen After last month’s spurt of growth, July 2012 combined container traffic has contracted year-over-year for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. traffic has been pulsing for most of 2012 – one good month, one … Continue reading

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July 2012 Rail Movements: Economic Winds Changing?

Written by Steven Hansen Could it be that rail is warning of an economic pivot point?  Reflecting on the July 2012 rail data which we report on weekly – the trends within the data have changed.  Is it just one … Continue reading

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Sea Container Counts Have Good Improvement in June 2012

Written by Steven Hansen In a nice surprise, the combined container counts for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach showed a relative surge of growth. The economically intuitive imports are up 4.8% year-over-year and up a more meager … Continue reading

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June 2012 Rail Movements: A Good Month

Written by Steven Hansen Not only has coal been screwing up analysis of rail data, this month we can add grain to the list.  The transport portion of the economy is showing the real economy is expanding at least 3%. … Continue reading

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Sea Container Counts Continue to Warn Economy Slowing in May 2012

Written by Steven Hansen Using a similar lead sentence from last month, container counts are continuing to show the economy is struggling to make headway.   The economically intuitive imports are down 2.5% year-over-year and up a meager 0.1% year-to-date. … Continue reading

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May 2012 Rail Movements: Data Shows the Economy Is Healthy

Written by Steven Hansen Econintersect publishes Association of American Railroads (AAR) weekly traffic reports on Thursdays, and this post provides a monthly overview showing rail movements for May 2012 compared to May 2011. Coal is screwing up analysis of rail … Continue reading

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