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After surging in March, crosstie purchases retreated in April. Purchases totaling 1.8 million units tumbled 24 percent vs. March's total, according to the Railway Tie Association's (RTA) monthly market report.

April crosstie production totaling 1.6 million units declined 1.8 percent and inventories totaling 15.8 million units decreased 1 percent compared with March levels.

Purchases fell 1.6 percent below the average from the past five Aprils while production rose 0.8 percent above the average, RTA said.

During 2008's first four months, purchases totaled 8 million units, up 17 percent, and production totaled 6.9 million units, up 7 percent compared with totals from the same 2007 period.

On a 12-month rolling total basis, purchases stood at 21.4 million units at April's end vs. 21.6 million units at March's end. Production nearly matched March's rolling total of 21 million units and the inventory-to-sales ratio fell slightly to 0.73.

"For the past six calendar years, production has outpaced purchases, but a better balance has recently appeared," RTA said in its report.