Rail Week Ending December 29, 2012: Massive Decline to End the Year

Econintersect: Week 52 of 2012 ending December 29 shows same week total rail traffic well below 2011 levels according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). In fact, the levels were lower than any week in the last two years. The carload portion of rail traffic showed same week traffic contracted 13.8 % (versus last week's 0.9%). Excluding coal and grain (which are not an economic indicator), rail carloads contracted at -6.0% (last week +13.6%) same week year-over-year. Intermodal same week traffic contracted 14.0% (versus last week's +10.2%) Total same week rail traffic contracted 13.3% (versus last week's -3.0%) USA coal production is down 8.6 % same week year-over-year (see below - data was not updated on government website from last week), and the cumulative effect on rail carloads continues to drag traffic down. Read more »