Tom Biery/Trans PixsU.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 0.7% to 228,806 units last week over the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
Year-to-date, intermodal traffic rose 6.6% to 2.6 million units over the same period last year.
Railroad carloads rose 0.5% to 280,624 units for the week, according to AAR.
Five of the 10 carload groups posted increases, compared with the same week last year, led by a 58.3% jump in petroleum products.
Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-value merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for shorter distances at either end of the trip.