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August 10, 2012 8:30 AM, EDT

U.S. intermodal traffic rose 3.3% last week from a year ago, the Association of American Railroads reported.

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Container traffic for the week ended Aug. 4 rose 4.4% to 212,740 units, while trailers fell 4.3% to 30,521 units.

Railroad carloads excluding intermodal rose 0.4% to 288,229 units, 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.