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U.S. intermodal rail traffic rose 1.3% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads said.

Total intermodal volume rose to 201,728 units, from 199,117 last year, AAR said in its weekly report.

Containers rose 3.6% to 169,638 units, while trailers fell 9.2% to 32,090 units.

Freight rail traffic, which excludes intermodal traffic, dipped 0.8% from to 264,030 carloads, AAR said.

Railroad volume is considered an important economic indicator. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.