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November 28, 2005 9:00 AM, EST

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ail freight traffic declined for the week ended Nov. 19, but intermodal continued to rise compared to the same week a year earlier, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Total intermodal volume for the week rose 2.8% year-over-year to 245,565 units, AAR said. Trailer volume was flat at 65,280 units, while container volume rose 3.8% to 180,285 units.

Total rail carloads for the week fell 2.5% to 337,875 units, the group said in its weekly report.

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.