Rail

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 5/1/1999

Despite a 4.1% one-month hike in prices for hauling non-trailer-on-flatcar shipments of metallic ores, the price index for linehaul rail transport fell 0.3% from February to March. For the past eight months, average rail rates as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics have been flat or falling. Average linehaul prices now stand at August 1997 levels. The forecast calls for rail rates to inch up 0.1% in the second quarter, 0.7% in the third quarter, and 0.8% in the final quarter of 1999 from year-ago levels.

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

Coal/Petroleum 0.0 +0.8 +0.7

Chemicals -0.1 -0.7 -1.0

Farm products 0.0 -2.8 -2.5

Motor vehicles 0.0 0.0 0.0

Metallic ores +4.1 +1.3 -0.8