August should be the busiest month of the year for import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports now that retailers have stocked up for back-to-school and are getting a head start on holiday season merchandise. That's according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, which said cargo volume for 2016 should end the year with a 1.6 percent increase over last year.

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports should see a small-but-significant increase this month as merchants stock up for the back-to-school season, then see a larger wave in late summer and fall for the holiday shopping season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to be mostly down through the summer but should see a significant uptick just before the winter holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement will have a positive impact on both retailers and American consumers once enacted, according to a report from the National Retail Federation.

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to be at some of its highest levels ever during the next few months despite a fall-off from last year's record-setting numbers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.