A quick look at freight traffic via railroads indicates no surprising changes in our economic landscape. However, the numbers do reaffirm some interesting trends. Total rail freight volume for the fourth week of January 2008 was estimated at 32.4 billion ton-miles, a decrease of 1.2% from one year ago. Some of the decline is attributed to severe weather conditions early in the month, especially in the eastern states.

What bears special concern in the Association of American Railroads rail freight traffic report are the few categories of freight that are showing significant reductions in rail freight loading volume when compared to 2007. Coal coke, which is used mainly as an industrial fuel showed a major decline in loading volume of 36.8%. This could be due in part to a shifting away from hydrocarbon fuels. Lumber and wood products loadings declined by a significant 22.35%, which does not bode well for the construction and furnishing trades. Primary forest product loadings dropped by 19.9% which further indicates a slow start to the coming building season.