Rail

By Daryl Delano -- Logistics Management, 2/1/1998

Unusually large gains in prices charged for hauling farm products and metallic ores were recorded during the final month of 1997. For the year as a whole, however, linehaul operators were able to pass along only moderate price increases. Rail-freight price inflation totaled 0.6 percent during the year, with most of the gain concentrated in the farm-products sector. Our current forecast for 1998 sees rail companies enjoying only a 0.8-percent increase in average prices charged.

% CHANGE VS.: 1 month ago 6 mos. ago 1 yr. ago

Coal NA NA NA

Chemicals 0.0 +0.4 +0.7

Grain +1.0 +2.2 +4.3

Motor vehicles 0.0 0.0 -1.1

Metallic ores +1.1 -0.8 -0.5