October 14, 2025 — U.S. imports declined again in August and are likely, experts say, to continue to decline for the rest of the year.
The National Retail Federation (NRF), which produces the Global Port Tracker with Hackett Associates, attributed the declines, both actual and projected, to the effect of tariff pauses, which caused shippers to move merchandise for the holiday season early, producing mid-summer shipping rushes.
May 13, 2025 — Experts are predicting that the United States’ major container ports will see a decline in import levels for the first time in a monthly period since 2023.
In a recent edition of the Global Port Tracker, produced by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, industry analysts said that U.S. imports are expected to be down each month from May through September and that the overall volume for the year was also trending downward.
March 11, 2025 — Container ports in the United States are seeing elevated cargo levels, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. The report comes amid rising uncertainty over tariffs in the U.S., where President Donald Trump’s rapidly evolving trade policy has shaken up the shipping industry and sent a chill through markets.
NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said that uncertainty around tariffs, particularly those on goods from China, is leading retailers to rush their imports into the country.
December 11, 2024 — Experts from the National Retail Federation (NRF), Hackett Associates, and container price tracking service Container XChange are predicting a surge in imports and price hikes into major U.S. container ports that are likely to last at least a year, citing President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs and a possible resumption of strikes along the East and Gulf coasts as primary reasons.
“Either a strike or new tariffs would be a blow to the economy, and retailers are doing what they can to avoid the impact of either for as long as they can,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said in a release. “We hope that both can be avoided, but bringing in cargo early is a prudent step to mitigating the impact on our industry, consumers, and the nation’s economy.”
December 5, 2024 — Early data analyzing U.S. shopping trends during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday weekend could be a harbinger of good news for grocery and food sales in December.
According to new research from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and data firm Prosper Insights & Analytics, 197 million people shopped – for either food or non-food items – during the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day on 28 November through Cyber Monday on 2 December.
Read the full story at SeafoodSource
November 21, 2024 — Donald Trump campaigned on a policy of aggressive tariffs intended to spur manufacturing in the United States and strengthen U.S.-based supply chains. Now that he’s been elected, some business groups are expressing concerns about how such changes would affect American industries.
National Retail Federation (NRF) Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold told SeafoodSource the proposed tariffs are likely to pass major costs on to American consumers, who are already suffering from record inflation post the Covid-19 pandemic.
June 15, 2023 — Predictions for record spending this Father’s Day are not swaying U.S. grocery chains from emphasizing their value seafood offerings.
Americans will collectively spend an estimated record-high USD 22.9 billion (EUR 21 billion) to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, 18 June, up from USD 20 billion (EUR 18 billion) in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual survey. Greeting cards and clothing will be the top items purchased for the holiday, according to the survey, which was conducted by Proper Insights and Analytics, but 52 percent of respondents said they will give fathers a special outing such as dinner or brunch.
June 9, 2022 — The National Retail Federation (NRF) and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) are making renewed efforts to fight the impact of Section 301 tariffs on seafood and other goods from China.
The NRF is urging the Biden administration to repeal the tariffs, noting that they have cost U.S. importers USD 136.5 billion (EUR 128 billion) since 2018.
Read the full story at SeafoodSource
May 16, 2022 — U.S. ports are processing a record number of shipping containers this spring.
U.S. ports covered by the National Retail Federation’s and Hacket Associates’ Global Port Tracker handled 2.34 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in March, up 10.8 percent from February and a 3.2 percent year-over-year increase, NRF said in a press release.
Read the full story at SeafoodSource
August 5, 2021 — New COVID-19-related vaccination and masking requirements at restaurants in some U.S. cities are raising concerns among restaurant groups and in the seafood industry.
New York City and San Francisco are now requiring citizens to wear masks indoors – including at restaurants – due to a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, primarily sourced to the more virulent delta variant of the coronavirus. Customers at New York City restaurants and bars will also be required to show proof of vaccination before dining indoors.