4% drop projected for US retail container traffic in 2008

Volume is projected to total 15.8m teu for the year, compared with 16.4m teu in 2007. Cargo volume each month this year has been below the same month last year, and is expected to continue to be below last year’s levels in each remaining month except October and December.

“This has been a very challenging year, and cargo volume reflects consumer demand as retailers work to keep inventory as tight as possible in order to keep supply and demand in balance,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

US ports handled 1.3m teu in June, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available and down 0.3% from May and 10.3% from June 2007.