The first month of 2024 got off to a strong start as January retail imports at U.S. container ports increased 9% to 1.96 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units, easily beating projections from the NRF and Hackett Associates. Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea have resulted in higher costs and shipping delays, but importers have been able to reroute cargo successfully, and the impact on consumers has been minimal. The NRF’s forecasts show import growth in ... Log in to view full article.