by Calculated Risk on 7/09/2022 08:11:00 AM

From the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Rail Time Indicators. Graphs and excerpts reprinted with permission.

In June, total U.S. carloads fell 1.5% from last year, their third consecutive monthly decline. ...

U.S intermodal originations in June were down 4.6% from last year, their fifth decline in 2022’s first six months.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph from the Rail Time Indicators report shows the six-week average of U.S. Carloads in 2020, 2021 and 2022:

U.S. railroads originated 1.16 million total carloads in June 2022, down 1.5% from June 2021. It’s the third consecutive year-over-year decline and the fourth in the first six months of 2022. In 2022’s second quarter, total carloads were down 2.7% from last year; in the first half, they were down 0.1%. Since 1988, when our data begin, only 2020 had fewer first-half carloads than 2022.

The second graph shows the six-week average (not monthly) of U.S. intermodal in 2020, 2021 and 2022: (using intermodal or shipping containers):

U.S railroads also originated 1.32 million intermodal units in June, down 4.6% from last year. It’s the fifth decline in 2022’s first six months and the 10th in the past 11 months. Intermodal originations averaged 264,624 per week in June 2022, the fewest in four months.