The import slowdown was caused by inflation: will it pick back up?
The Covid-19 pandemic caused an import surge that flooded the supply chain with too much product for months - but inflation seemed to have the opposite effect. Now, there is an influx of products sitting in containers at ports or in warehouses. Large demand from retailers in the U.S. have left the economy in a pickle - what do we do about this epic slowdown?
The consumer behavior shift was a result of inflationary pressures from energy and fuel costs. They are more likely to spend money on crucial items like healthcare or groceries over television sets and clothes.
The Global Port Tracker report indicates that import cargo volume at major container ports in the United States is expected to increase towards a peak in August.
Last month, the container volumes received by the U.S. dropped 28% in merely thirty days.
The country’s economy is teetering on the edge of collapse, and many companies - especially those that manage the ports - have been forced to halt operations in response.
The job market has been cooling off and inflation seems to be on the decline, signaling that the Federal Reserve may be less inclined to raise interest rates again and again, mirroring the increases of 2022.
Germany has traded Russia for Norway as the country’s import share dropped to just 22% in 2022. Russia began gradually cutting its gas supply via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany over the summer and shortly thereafter ceased supplying via pipeline in September.
Compared to 2021, November imports and exports were down in November of 2022 at (-17.4%) and (-12.3%) respectively.
In a 2022 shopping survey conducted by Supply Chain Brain of 3,138 U.S. adults, 50% said that they did not begin holiday shopping until November.
A new policy is bringing a $45 per day “Sustained Import Dwell Fee” for shippers to the Port of Houston.
While this is the second week in a row with a very incremental change, many say it’s still better than going up.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, the employment cost index grew by 1.2% from July through September.
UPS Ground, Air, and International services will launch the rate hike beginning on December 27th.
While predictions are that the recession will be “mild”, Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is echoing what many have been stating: a recession is coming, and the public should be prepared.
The largest exporter of pineapple across the globe is Costa Rica, but it doesn’t come easy.
Manufacturers in the United States are likely to suffer from the value of the dollar going up as US-made goods become more and more expensive for buyers internationally.
Used cars are officially unaffordable for most Americans. Interest rate bumps have forced a number of potential car shoppers to reconsider buying, even what has previously been the most ‘reasonable’ option.
Unemployment remains at a 50-year low, but the signs of an impending recession are growing clearer by the day.
They might be right. FedEx’s sales forecast was full of cost-cutting measures after Q1 profits showed poor performance.
‘Shrinkflation’ is a fun little term to describe what we suspected was true… yes, that container of ice cream did get smaller.
The price of meat has gone through the roof, and Walmart is hoping to ease that inflationary pain of its customers.
Americans have been struggling with rising gas prices since early this year, but finally, they’ve seen the smallest bit of relief.
For the week of August 8th, the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) recorded a national diesel average cost per gallon of $4.993.
Corn shipments continue to leave Ukraine ports after the UN deal brokered between Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine takes effect.
While the 2,702-page, trillion-dollar infrastructure bill is quite the feat for the Biden Administration, it seems that it is one of the main catalysts in the highest inflation rate America has seen in 40 years.
Fears of a recession continue to grow as the US economy shrinks for the 2nd quarter of the year, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace.
Don’t leave the lights on when you leave the room - rising energy costs are causing warehouse managers to reevaluate focus on operational tools such as forklifts and batteries, hoping to reduce expenses.
The Chinese love their American cherry imports - so much so, that the top buyer of US cherries has impacted airfreight capacity for other export markets to ensure their shipments get delivered.
Inflation in the United States has reached its lowest point since early 2021, providing some relief to households after two years of high prices.