Intermodal Traffic Rises 1% for Week

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Bruce Harmon/Trans Pixs

Intermodal traffic rose 1% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.

Traffic increased to 214,343 units for the week ended Saturday, AAR said in its weekly report. Trailers rose 8.3% to 34,353 units, while containers slipped 0.3% to 179,990 units.

Railroad carloads showed a 5.5% gain to 300,953 carloads, AAR 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.