Gauging U.S. Economic Activity Through Rail Traffic Data
Since demand for rail service arises as a result of demand elsewhere in the economy for the products that railroads haul, rail traffic is a useful gauge of broader economic activity, both for specific industries and for the economy as a whole. A sample of current weekly, monthly and annual information on freight rail traffic are in the interactive charts below.
More detailed data is contained in a variety of AAR statistical products, which are free for AAR full members and available for purchase by non-AAR members through the online catalog. Email AAR’s Policy & Economics department with questions.