In addition, box throughput dropped below the one million mark for the first time in five years. The report says imports will continue to see significant declines compared with last year at least through the summer.

According to the report, the 10 US ports surveyed handled 847,832 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in February, the most recent month for which actual numbers were available. The number was down 20.6% from January and 31.3% from February 2008.

Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy says the February and March numbers were expected to be low because they come during the slowest part of the annual shipping cycle. Nonetheless, he adds, they show the severity of the current recession and its impact on the retail industry.

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