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U.S. intermodal rail traffic increased 17.5% in the week ended Saturday compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.
Total intermodal volume grew to 205,817 units in the week ended Feb. 27, from 175,228 last year, AAR said in its weekly report released Thursday.
Containers jumped 23.2% to 174,065 units, while trailers fell 6.4% to 33,933 units.
Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, rose 2.6% to 290,261 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.
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