Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to increase 9 percent in December over the same month last year, and 2010 should end with a 17 percent increase over 2009, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. "The nation's improving economy has been reflected in the amount of merchandise imported by retailers this year," said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. "We haven't fully recovered from the recession, and we still need more job creation to get consumer confidence back where it should be. But import levels have seen solid increases throughout the year and we expect that to continue in 2011. Cargo volume doesn't translate directly to sales, but these trends are certainly in line with what we've experienced with monthly retail sales and this year's holiday season."
