Econintersect: Rail traffic YoY growth rose slightly year-over-year in week nineteen of 2011 ending 14 May 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, however the four week trendline is holding steady between 3% to 4% YoY improvement.
Last week rail traffic was up 3.2% year-over-year, while this week it is up slightly to 3.6% YoY. The four week moving average remained unchanged at 2.9% YoY. Year-to-date gains declined from 5.7% to 5.6%.
Total US Rail Traffic
Major Commodity Groups | Total | Grain | Chemicals | Food | Forest | Metals | Coal | Autos | Intermodal |
Current Week | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.6% | 13.1% | 6.6% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 8.0% | (0.3%) | (10.8%) | 6.3% |
Vs. 2009 | 20.0% | 29.5% | 20.4% | 4.0% | 7.4% | 77.6% | 8.8% | 42.0% | 22.4% |
4 Week Rolling Avg. | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 2.9% | 14.4% | 2.6% | (0.9%) | (1.3%) | 2.4% | (3.4%) | (3.9%) | 7.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 18.3% | 34.0% | 15.8% | 0.3% | 9.6% | 80.2% | 4.1% | 33.4% | 23.4% |
Quarter to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 3.6% | 14.1% | 2.8% | (1.3%) | (1.9%) | 3.5% | (3.2%) | 3.5% | 8.9% |
Vs. 2009 | 19.3% | 31.9% | 17.0% | 1.9% | 8.6% | 80.8% | 4.2% | 44.9% | 24.6% |
Year to Date | |||||||||
Vs. 2010 | 5.6% | 6.7% | 5.9% | (4.0%) | 4.1% | 8.8% | 1.6% | 8.8% | 8.8% |
Vs. 2009 | 14.0% | 23.5% | 18.7% | 2.2% | 7.8% | 55.8% | (1.1%) | 44.9% | 19.9% |