Import volumes at major US container ports are forecast to total 1.5 million containers in July, the highest monthly volume over at least the past five years, reported joc.com.
The forecast came in the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associations.
The upward trend is seen as a continuation of a trend of unusually high import levels that began in the spring, when retailers started importing seasonal items such as holiday merchandise to pre-empt any potential problems.
In May, Global Port Tracker cited an increase of 6.6% in containerised imports over March 2013; June imports are expected to be 7.6% higher than June 2013.
For other months, July is projected to see a 4.3% increase;, with August, September, October and November showing slightly more modest increases.
Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said the increases in volume signify an improving USA economy, underpinned by a sharp drop in unemployment, solid growth in consumer spending and higher levels of consumer confidence.
