roducts
P
agle Metal
E
Janes Co.
Gross &
Hurdle Machine
Works
K
oppers Inc.
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Trend lines in the four graphs below are 4 quarter moving averages.
US Class 1 Freight (billions of ton-miles)
Real GDP growth for the first quarter was 0.6 percent, and the second
quarter second estimate of GDP growth was 2.3 percent.
Crosstie purchases were up 6.3 percent in the 1st quarter.
In the 2nd quarter of 2015 shortline freight was down by 4.2 percent from a
year ago.
RailConnect Freight Car Data - Carloads
ties - BUSINESS TRENDS
500
450
400
3
50
3 00
Real GDP (billions of chained 2009 dollars)
Quarterly Tie Purchases
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4
,000
3
,000
2,000
1
,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
2
50
0
0
2008
2009
Q3
Q3
Q3
Q3
Q3
2015
Q3
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Q3
2008
2009
2010
Q3
Q2
Q4
Q2
Q2
Q3
Q3
Q3
Q4
2011
Q4
Q4
2013
Q2
Q2 Q2
Q3
Q4
2015
Q3
Q4
2012
2014
1
6,500
1
6,000
15,500
1 5,000
1
4,500
1
4,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
According to RTA estimates (based on total carloads, coal carloads and seasonal factors), US
C lass 1 freight, measured in ton-miles, decreased in the 2nd quarter, and was down 2.6
p
ercent from year ago. Sources for ton-miles: AAR 2005 to 2012; RTA estimates since 2013.
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q2
2008
2009
2010
Q3
Q2
Q4
Q2
Q2
Q3
Q3
Q3
Q4
2011
Q4 Q4
2013
Q2
Q2
Q3
Q4
2015
Q3
Q4
2012
2014
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q2
CROSSTIES • JULY/AUGUST 2015
26
US Housing Starts (saar)
YTD Housing starts are 10.7 percent higher than last year; permits are up 11.3 percent.
US Housing Permits (saar)
■ 2012 ■ 2013 ■ 2014 ■ 2015
■ 2012 ■ 2013 ■ 2014 ■ 2015
Diesel prices have declined by 28.2% from year ago levels.
LIBOR 30 Day
LIBOR (interest rate) reflects a long-running global "easy money" policy.
J
F M A M J J A S
O
N
D
800
1,000
1,200
600
400
0
J
F
M A
M
J
J A
S
O
N
D
PERCENT
200
800
1,000
1,200
600
400
0
200
500
400
300
200
100
0
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
US Diesel Prices - cents per gallon
5/1/09
1/1/08
5/1/08
9/1/08
1/1/09
9/1/09
1/1/10
5/1/10
9/1/10
9/1/11
1/1/11
5/1/11
1/1/12
5/1/12
9/1/12
1/1/13
5/1/13
9/1/13
1/1/14
5/1/14
9/1/14
1/1/15
5/1/15
5/1/09
1/1/08
5/1/08
9/1/08
1/1/09
9/1/09
1/1/10
5/1/10
9/1/10
9/1/11
1/1/11
5/1/11
1/1/12
5/1/12
9/1/12
1/1/13
5/1/13
9/1/13
1/1/14
5/1/14
9/1/14
1/1/15
2008
2009
2010
Q3
Q2
Q4
Q2
Q2
Q3
Q3
Q3
Q4
2011
Q4
Q4
2013
Q2
Q2 Q2
Q3
Q4
2015
Q3
Q4
2012
2014
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q2