US Ports Facing ‘Goods Recession’ Amid Holiday Lull, Tariff Woes

US import volumes are projected to slow through the year-end holidays and into 2026, as tariff uncertainty weighs on cargo owners and the outlook for consumer spending remains clouded, new data show.

According to Descartes Systems Group’s latest Global Shipping Report, the volume of US container imports slipped 0.1% last month compared with September, marking only the second October in the past decade to show a month-over-month decline and “a clear sign of importer caution.”

The October total of 2.31 million 20-foot equivalent container units, or TEUs, was 7.5% lower the year-earlier level and left the year-to-date tally just 0.9% ...