Insights - September 2016 - 15

2014-2016 YEARLY TRAFFIC TOTALS BY MONTH Source: IANA Equipment Type, Size and Ownership data file IANA data and statistics products provide a comprehensive picture of North America's intermodal business through coverage that includes movements into, out of and within Mexico. For more information, visit www.intermodal.org or contact Art Cleaver at 301-982-3400, ext. 346. Freight Reports Imports Fall in June Amid Strong Retail Sales According to the Aug. 9 Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, the nation's top containerports handled 1.58 million TEUs in June 2016, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 2.8 percent from May and 0.5 percent from June 2015. July was estimated at 1.64 million TEUs, up 1.5 percent from the same month last year. August is forecast at 1.68 million TEUs, down 0.3 percent from last year. The first half of 2016 totaled 8.98 million TEUs, up 1.4 percent from the same period in 2015. Total volume for 2015 was 18.2 million TEUs, up 5.4 percent from 2014. "Shoppers are right in the middle of buying back-to-school products but the retail supply chain is already preparing for the holiday season," NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. "August is the peak month of the annual shipping season that builds up to the winter holidays, and a lot of the merchandise consumers will be buying this fall is already showing up at the docks." Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said much of the recent upturn in the U.S. economy is attributable to consumers, noting that the 5.1 percent increase in year-over-year retail sales in June as calculated by NRF was nearly twice the 2.6 percent increase in average hourly wages seen the same month. "In these stressed times with uncertainty abounding amid an unusual presidential election and other issues, consumers have decided it is time to hit the stores and stock up on goods," Hackett said. Global Port Tracker covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami on the East Coast; and Houston on the Gulf Coast. Intermodal Volumes Fall in July Total intermodal volumes fell 9.0 percent in July relative to the same month last year. Domestic and international container shipments lost 1.1 percent and 10.9 percent respectively, while trailer volumes dropped 31.8 percent. Total yearto-date growth declined by 3.3 percent. For information on subscribing to IANA's Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics Report, which includes expanded information on Mexican intermodal movements as of January 2016, go to http://www.intermodal.org/ information/statistics.php. Freight - continued on page 17 September 2016 | Intermodal Insights 15 http://www.intermodal.org http://www.intermodal.org/information/statistics.php http://www.intermodal.org/information/statistics.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - September 2016