August merchandise imports to show first increase since May

Washington, D.C. -- Following negative numbers in four of the last five months, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 1.7% in August over the same month last year and should continue to see gains through the holiday season and the remainder of 2013, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. The year is expected to end with a 2.4% increase over 2012.



“As the economy continues to slowly improve, retailers are stocking up for their most important sales season of the year,” NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold said. “Merchants have been very cautious so far this year, but our forecasts show that they plan to make up for it in the next few months.”