Retail import volume at lowest level in five years

Washington, D.C. Import cargo volume at the country’s major retail container ports improved in March over February’s seven-year low, but was still at its lowest level in five years, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight.

The total remained below the 1 million mark.

“Cargo that came across the docks in March is in the stores now, so these numbers show us that retailers expect slow sales this spring and summer, and have been cautious in the amount of merchandise that they?ve ordered,” said Jonathan Gold, VP supply chain and customs policy, NRF.

“Month-to-month numbers are rising, but we’re still expecting significantly lower quantities of merchandise being imported than we saw last year.”