The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Canadian National Railway on Tuesday reported a nearly one-quarter drop in profits last quarter, citing falling consumer demand and fallout from the B.C. port workers' strike in July. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that chief executive officer Tracy Robinson says overstocked inventories and the 13-day job action dented its cargo volumes and revenue last quarter, as did wildfires and flooding at both ends of the country. She believes CN has "seen the bottom on volumes." She warns, however, consumer activity "continues to be murky" amid an uncertain economic environment. Chief marketing officer Doug MacDonald says CN is working to woo customers back to Canadian ports and rail lines following the costly shutdown of the country's biggest sea trade gateway. On Tuesday, CN reported net income in its third quarter fell 24 per cent to $1.11-billion from $1.46-billion in the same period a year earlier. Revenues decreased 12 per cent to $3.99-billion from $4.51-billion the year before. On an adjusted basis, diluted earnings were down 21 per cent at $1.69 a share from $2.13 a share last year, slightly below analyst expectations of $1.72 a share.