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The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 7, 2016: Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 492,923 carloads and intermodal units, down 10.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May. 7 were 233,047 carloads, down 14.8% compared with the same week in 2015, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 259,876 containers and trailers, down 6.4% compared to 2015. Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2015. They were miscellaneous carloads, up 6.7% to 9,839 carloads; chemicals, up...

We continue to get more evidence that the U.S. economy has entered a major downturn. Just last week, I wrote about how U.S. GDP growth numbers have been declining for three quarters in a row, and previously I wrote about how corporate defaults have surged to their highest level since the last financial crisis. Well, now we are getting some very depressing numbers from the rail industry. As you will see below, U.S. rail traffic was down more than 11 percent from a year ago in April. That is an absolutely catastrophic number, and the U.S. rail industry is feeling...

292 Union Pacific engines idled in Arizona Desert Total US rail traffic in April plunged 11.8% from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Carloads of bulk commodities such as coal, oil, grains, and chemicals plummeted 16.1% to 944,339 units. - snip - Only five of the 20 commodity categories saw gains. Of the decliners, coal was the biggest. But petroleum products also plunged 25%, and grain mill products dropped 7%. Even without coal, carloads were down 3% year-over-year.

Rail Traffic Continues To Rise by: Todd Sullivan September 30, 2010 Total North American rail traffic rose to 692.5k cars last week making it the best week in the past two years. When we combine this with what we are seeing in temporary employment trends, the two data points back the view I hold that not only is a “double dip” not likely, but now becoming a highly remote scenario. Also, The Conference Board Help Wanted Online Index continues to trend higher with a Sept 2010 gain of 59,900. Fears that the economy is not in recovery or is stalling...

AAR Reports Rail Traffic Continues to Reflect Down Economy 8 Oct 2009 For more information contact: AAR Communications, 202-639-2100 Holly Arthur harthur@aar.org Lauren Sandberg lsandberg@aar.org AAR Reports Rail Traffic Continues to Reflect Down EconomyAll 19 Freight Commodity Groups Show Declines WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 8, 2009 — The Association of American Railroads today reported that for the week ended Oct. 3, 2009, rail traffic continues to reflect the down economy – originating 277,734 carloads, down 17.2 percent compared with the same week in 2008. All of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from the same week last year, with...