American freight mirrors economic performance

American railroads seek solace from consumer spending

The Association of American Railroads represents the industry in the USA. Image: © AAR

US rail freight ended 2025 on an uneven note, as weakening intermodal volumes tempered modest annual growth across the wider network. Figures from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) show December intermodal traffic falling for a fourth consecutive month year on year, highlighting the sector’s exposure to softer consumer demand. Carload volumes also declined in December, reflecting patchy industrial conditions as US manufacturing remained in contraction.

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Author: Simon Walton

Source: WorldCargo News

Simon Walton is RailFreight's UK correspondent.

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