{
  "id": 13151977,
  "title": "Retailers say extended peak shipping season winding down",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/retailers-say-extended-peak-shipping-season-winding-down",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T15:20:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/retailers-say-extended-peak-shipping-season-winding-down"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that the peak shipping season for U.S. container imports is coming to an end after an unusually prolonged period of high volumes during the summer and early fall. August 2026 is now recognized as the busiest month of the year, surpassing September as the anticipated peak. NRF's Global Port Tracker indicates that imports are expected to decline through the rest of the year as retailers transition from stocking holiday merchandise to replenishing inventories and preparing for early 2027. Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain and customs policy, stated that even with minor fluctuations in the final data, the peak season is likely past its busiest period. Ports covered by the tracker handled 2.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, a 0.4% increase from July but a 0.7% decrease from August 2025. The NRF has lowered its September forecast to 2.28 million TEUs from the previously projected 2.31 million, a 8.2% increase from the previous year. Expected imports for October are at 2.25 million TEUs, an 8.5% year-over-year increase, before falling to 2 million TEUs in November. Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, attributes the surge in imports to robust consumer spending, despite weakening economic indicators, declining consumer confidence, and rising inflation. The projections suggest a gradual decline from summer highs rather than a sudden drop in cargo demand. Most holiday merchandise has already arrived, with \"last-minute replenishment and preparation for early 2027\" driving shipments for the remainder of the year. Forbes forecasts full-year imports at the covered ports at 25.8 million TEUs, a 1.4% increase from 2025.",
  "summary": "NRF says the extended peak shipping season is winding down, with most holiday merchandise already in and U.S. container imports expected to ease through year-end. The post Retailers say extended peak shipping season winding down appeared first on FreightWaves .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}