Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to slow down this month following record levels seen in September and October as retailers rushed to bring merchandise into the country ahead of a possible shutdown of West Coast ports, 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 see a final surge and set a new monthly record in October as the holiday season approaches, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Import volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.5 percent in May as negotiators prepare to begin talks on a new contract for West Coast dockworkers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Import volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to drop 8.4 percent in February from the same time last year as the shipping cycle reaches its slowest month of the year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

In comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Council of Chain Restaurants has criticized the government group's corn ethanol mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard, and labeled the RFS as unrealistic.

In adding 13,500 jobs in November, the retail industry in the United States is said to be slowly but surely shaking off the recession.

Despite concerns over the government shutdown, import volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to grow 9.1 percent in October over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. The numbers reflect merchandise ordered months before the shutdown as retailers planned for the holiday season.