RTA: Crosstie production up, purchases down in August

In August, crosstie production rose 12.7 percent to 2.5 million units and purchases fell 2.7 percent to 2.1 million units from July levels, according to the Railway Tie Association (RTA).

Compared with year-ago levels, production is down 0.5 percent, while purchases are up by 2.2 percent.

Production for the first eight months of the year increased 7.8 percent to 18.7 million units, while purchases increased 5.5 percent to 17.8 million units compared with August 2015, according to RTA's August report.

Purchases have been in a moderate upswing since May 2015, and are up at a 5.3 percent annual rate. Starting in November 2014, production has been in a strong uptrend, and it is up by 13.7 percent from the year-ago level, according to RTA's report.