Intermodal Traffic Rises 1.6% for Week

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Bruce Harmon/Trans Pixs

U.S. intermodal traffic rose 1.6% for the week ended Saturday from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

Trailer traffic dropped 13.9% to 28,708 units, but containers rose 4.2% to 205,449 units, the rail trade group said in its weekly report.

Railroad carloads excluding intermodal fell 6.4% to 276,789 units, the group said.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.