Dwindling coal markets; domestic intermodal and chemical sector growth; and disruptions to manufacturing, agricultural and international intermodal markets have led to the eighth consecutive month of U.S. rail traffic declines, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
U.S. rail freight traffic numbers haven’t shown any signs of recovery for nearly nine months, down nearly 4% compared to 2018. Mexican traffic has also dropped, but not as severely as the U.S. On the bright side, Canadian traffic is experiencing at least some growth.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended September 14, 2019, and it’s the same sad, old song and dance with regards to volume.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended September 7, 2019, and, for this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 469,285 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6% compared with the same week last year.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that, for the seventh consecutive month, U.S. rail traffic has fallen. The main culprit? A weak economy.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended August 24, 2019, and for this week total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 532,483 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.9% compared with the same week last year.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended August 17, 2019, and, if you’ve been paying attention recently, the results really shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended August 10, 2019, and it’s still trending in the wrong direction—though the U.S.’s neighbor to the north saw a slight uptick.
Declines in coal, grain and intermodal were largely responsible for rail traffic’s sixth straight month of decline, according to AAR Senior Vice President of Policy and Economics John T. Gray.
Editor’s Note: RealClear Markets published this editorial by AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies on Aug. 1. With mixed economic signals coming from Washington D.C., Jefferies argues that federal lawmakers must do their part to provide certainty.