Import Container Volume Rises at Major U.S. Ports
July import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports will be about 16% higher than same month last year, according to a National Retail Federation report.
But the double-digit increases seen in recent months should taper offer this fall as retailers more cautiously manage their inventories, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released earlier this month by the NRF and Hackett Associates
“We are still seeing increases in imports, partly because last year’s volumes made for easy comparisons and partly because of real improvements in the economy and consumer spending,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy.
“Retailers are being cautious as they look at numbers for employment, housing and the availability of credit. There clearly can’t be consistent growth in consumer spending when customers don’t have jobs,” he said.
