Rail Cargo Starts to Peak as Buffett Sees No Recession: Freight

Railroads are starting to see signs of a shipping peak ahead of the Christmas holiday season, signaling the U.S. economy is still expanding and fending off a repeat recession.

North American rail carloads reached a 2011 high in the week that ended Oct. 1, as did intermodal units, the containers that can move by rail, road and sea and usually carry retail goods, the Association of American Railroads said yesterday. Both cargo categories marked a third straight week of gains.