U.S. rail activity rises in July

   Rail activity in the United States rose during the last full week of July, with carloads growing 2.5 percent, year over year, to 295,532 units, according to the Association of American Railroads.
   Intermodal activity grew by 2.4 percent, year over year, to 256,379 units. Total traffic rose by 2.5 percent.
   Carload activity grew on the strength of petroleum-related cargo, which shot up 23.2 percent compared to the same week last year; so far this year, petroleum activity is up 44.7 percent. The activity of metallic ores, motor vehicles and nonmetallic minerals all rose by more than 8 percent during the week. Grain activity showed the largest weekly decline, falling 7.6 percent. 
   Canadian railroads experienced a 0.4 percent decline in carloads, finishing the week with 76,751 units. Intermodal activity fell 2.6 percent to 54,721 units. Nonmetallic mineral activity was a boost for carload growth, rising 17 percent; non-grain farm and food products took the largest hit, declining 23.1 percent.
   Carloads fell 1 percent, year over year, for Mexican railroads to 15,816 units, and intermodal growth was down 9.4 percent to 10,162 units. Grain rose 52.8 percent during the week, but forest products took a large, 71.4-percent hit. – Jon Ross