Intermodal Traffic Rises 3.9% for Week

U.S. rail intermodal traffic rose 3.9% last week from the same week a year ago to 248,266 units, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Year-to-date, intermodal traffic has risen 4.3% to 4.5 million units over the same period last year.

Railroad carloads increased 0.6% for the week ended Saturday to 280,986 units, according to AAR.

Five of the 10 carload groups posted increases compared with the same week last year, led by a 50.8% 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.