Econintersect: Week 42 of 2013 ending 19 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 up, and 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) is accelerating, and 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 12th week of improving data.
A summary of the data:
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported increased weekly rail traffic for the week ending October 19, 2013 with total U.S. weekly carloads of 289,256 carloads, up 0.2 percent compared with the same week last year. Intermodal volume for the week totaled 264,687 units, up 4.3 percent compared with the same week last year, and up for the 16th straight week in a row. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was 553,943 combined carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1 percent compared with the same week last year.
Eight of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2012, including petroleum and petroleum products with 13,644 carloads, up 15.5 percent; and grain, with 22,360 carloads, up 9.6 percent. Commodities showing a decrease compared with the same week last year included coal with 108,469 carloads, down 6.0 percent.
For the first 42 weeks of 2013, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 11,794,294 carloads, down 0.9 percent from the same point last year, and 10,339,870 intermodal units, up 3.7 percent from last year. Total U.S. traffic for the first 42 weeks of 2013 was 22,134,164 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.2 percent from last year.
USA coal production is up 1.7% same week year-over-year, has become a neutral to positive dynamic on rail.
| This Week | Carloads | Intermodal | Total |
| This week Year-over-Year | 0.2% | 4.3% | 2.1% |
| Ignoring coal and grain | 3.2% | ||
| 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 19, 2013:
Source: AAR
