Report: Retail container port traffic flattens

Report: Retail container port traffic flattens    Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to remain at about the same levels as last year through July before increasing later this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Gold

   'With rising gas prices and challenges in the labor and housing markets, consumer spending has slowed and retailers have adjusted their inventory levels accordingly,' said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. 'We are confident long-term consumer demand will grow, and that imports will pick up significantly in the fall.'
   U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.22 million TEUs in April, the latest month for which numbers are available. That was up 12 percent from March and 7 percent from April 2010. It was the 17th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines.
   May was estimated at 1.27 million TEUs, only 0.3 percent over May 2010. Further monthly forecasts are:
   ' June, 1.33 million TEUs, a 1 percent increase from a year ago.
   ' July, 1.39 million TEUs, up 0.5 percent.
   ' August, 1.47 million TEUs, up 3 percent.
   ' September, 1.49 million TEUs, up 12 percent.
   ' October, 1.54 million TEUs, up 19 percent.
   August through October are traditionally the busiest months of the year as retailers stock up for the holiday season.