Econintersect: Week 40 of 2013 ending 05 October shows same week total rail traffic (from same week one year ago) improved according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Railcar count was down, but intermodal count is up. Weekly overall data is up, and up even more ignoring coal and grain.
- Four week rolling average rate of growth (compared with the average one year ago) decelerated marginally, but is better than the 4 week rolling average one year ago;
- 13 week rolling average rate of growth (compared with the average one year ago) is accelerating, and better than the 13 week rolling average one year ago;
- 52 week rolling average rate of growth (compared with the average one year ago) is accelerating, and better than the 52 week rolling average one year ago.
This is the tenth week of improving data.
A summary of the data:
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported mixed weekly rail traffic for the week ending October 5, 2013 with total U.S. weekly carloads of 279,128 carloads, down 1.6 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 266,580 units, up 6.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and up for the 14th straight week in a row. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was 545,708 combined carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1 percent compared with the same week last year.
Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, including motor vehicles and parts, with 18,187 carloads or 12.3 percent, and metallic ores and metals, with 26,326 carloads or 10.1 percent. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included coal, with 99,266 carloads or 11.4 percent.
For the first 40 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,219,666 carloads, down 0.9 percent from the same point last year, and 9,814,344 intermodal units, up 3.7 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 40 weeks of 2013 was 21,034,010 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.2 percent from last year.
USA coal production is down 5.6% same week year-over-year, has become a neutral to positive dynamic on rail.
| This Week | Carloads | Intermodal | Total |
| This week Year-over-Year | -1.6% | 6.2% | 2.1% |
| Ignoring coal and grain | 4.1% | ||
| Year Cumulative to Date | -0.9% | 3.7% | 1.2% |
[click on graph below to enlarge]
Current Rail Chart
/images/z rail1.png
From EIA.gov:
For the week ended October 05, 2013:
Source: AAR
