Commentary
If you can’t hear that train a’coming, don’t blame Johnny Cash. Blame the railway workers’ strike that could effectively shut down interstate commerce just as the holiday season begins.
The strike could lead to further supply chain disruptions; it’s not just the consumer goods that drive Black Friday and beyond; it’s also the fuel that powers nearly our entire electric grid.
Coal is predominantly transported via rail to power plants and ports, but diesel fuel, oil, and propane are just some of the other products that are hauled by trains. Almost 40 percent of our long-distance interstate commerce travels by train. Just the possibility of a strike is increasing uncertainty and prices of multiple products….