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WASHINGTON — Shipments carried by U.S. railroads fell 16.1 percent last week compared with a year earlier, a major industry trade group reported Thursday.
The Association of American Railroads said freight carried on the tracks for the week ending Aug. 22 totaled 279,478 carloads.
Volume slipped 14.2 percent in the West, where cargo is primarily carried by Union Pacific Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Volumes sank 18.9 percent in the East, where freight is mostly hauled by CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp.
Intermodal volume is 16.2 percent from a year ago. Intermodal involves moving freight from one method of transportation to another, such as truck to rail.
Despite the shortfall, traffic levels among the nation's major railroads are at their highest level since early March. Railroad traffic is an indicator of overall economic health.
So far this year, shipments on U.S. rails are 18.8 percent compared with the same period in 2008.
