Econintersect: Rail traffic YoY growth improved in week twelve of 2011 ending 26 March 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. 2011 performance to date has been very strong, in spite of the weakening growth rate.
This week, though, the growth rate declined slightly from the previous week, reversing recent trends. Last week rail traffic was up 3.5% year-over-year. This week (week twelve 2011) the year-over-year remained at 3.5%. Year-to-date gains declined from 6.5% to 6.2%.
The data details:
Total US Rail Traffic
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.5% | 4.9% | 12.1% | (5.9%) | 7.6% | (4.0%) | (0.6%) | 12.7% | 5.7% |
Vs. 2009 | 18.5% | 28.4% | 27.5% | 0.6% | 9.2% | 36.9% | 14.1% | 44.6% | 18.4% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 4.1% | (1.2%) | 10.0% | (5.2%) | 9.4% | 7.2% | (0.2%) | 15.8% | 5.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 14.0% | 19.9% | 25.5% | 2.7% | 13.0% | 48.9% | (1.2%) | 37.5% | 20.3% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 6.2% | 3.4% | 6.9% | (5.4%) | 7.2% | 11.8% | 4.0% | 10.2% | 7.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 10.9% | 19.5% | 18.9% | 2.3% | 7.0% | 42.3% | (3.9%) | 44.3% | 17.1% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 6.2% | 3.4% | 6.9% | (5.4%) | 7.2% | 11.8% | 4.0% | 10.2% | 7.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 10.9% | 19.5% | 18.9% | 2.3% | 7.0% | 42.3% | (3.9%) | 44.3% | 17.1% |