Econintersect: Rail traffic YoY growth slightly improved year-over-year in week seventeen of 2011 ending 30 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 stronger data. Performance year to date for 2011 has been weakening.
Last week rail traffic was up 1.4% year-over-year, while this week it is up a stronger 3.3% YoY. The four week moving average declined from 5.6% to a less good 3.7% YoY. Year-to-date gains declined from 6.1%to 5.9%.
Total US Rail Traffic
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.3% | 6.9% | 6.4% | (2.0%) | (0.3%) | 5.8% | (1.9%) | (2.0%) | 7.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 18.7% | 33.0% | 16.2% | 0.5% | 11.3% | 116.2% | 5.3% | 23.1% | 22.1% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.7% | 13.1% | 2.3% | (2.0%) | (2.5%) | 2.9% | (2.9%) | 9.6% | 9.0% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.3% | 33.0% | 16.1% | 2.7% | 8.7% | 86.1% | 4.0% | 45.8% | 24.6% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.7% | 13.1% | 2.3% | (2.0%) | (2.5%) | 2.9% | (2.9%) | 9.6% | 9.0% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.3% | 33.0% | 16.1% | 2.7% | 8.7% | 86.1% | 4.0% | 45.8% | 24.6% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.2% | (4.4%) | 4.6% | 9.4% | 2.2% | 11.0% | 8.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 13.4% | 22.8% | 18.7% | 2.4% | 7.7% | 54.0% | (1.7%) | 45.1% | 19.4% |