Retailers Stocking Up Ahead of Holiday Season

Imports are up, leading the National Retail Federation to predict that retailers are optimistic for this year’s holiday season.

September 10, 2013

WASHINGTON – Retailers have been stocking up in advance of the holiday season, the National Retail Federation (NRF) announced earlier this week in a press release.

According to the NRF, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is projected to increase 5.1% this month over the same month last year, citing data from its monthly Global Port Tracker report, which it released with Hackett Associates, a consulting firm to the international maritime industry.

“Retailers are making up for the slow imports seen earlier in the year,” said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold. “It’s too early to predict holiday sales, but merchants are clearly stocking up.”

An increase in the number of cargo containers imported provides a rough barometer of retailers’ expectations, even though it cannot reveal the value of the goods brought into this country. 

“The U.S. economy is on the road to sustained growth,” said Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett. “Second-quarter GDP was well above expectations and surprised most forecasters, the unemployment picture is improving, and we believe consumer confidence will translate into increased sales during the fourth quarter.”

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement