Rail Week Ending 12 January 2013: Four Week Rolling Average At Low Levels

Econintersect: Week 02 of 2013 ending January 12 shows same week total rail traffic well below 2012 levels according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).  The four week moving average of total same week rail traffic is well below any levels seen in the last few years. The carload portion of rail traffic showed same week traffic contracted 6.4% (versus last week's -12.1%). Excluding coal and grain (which are not an economic indicator), rail carloads expanded at 3.6% (last week -4.5%) same week year-over-year. Intermodal same week traffic expanded 10.4% (versus last week's -8.0%) Total same week rail traffic contracted 6.1% (versus last week's -12.1%) USA coal production is down 12.0 % same week year-over-year, and the cumulative effect on rail carloads continues to drag traffic down. Read more »