Jonathan Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation, said: “There are clear concerns about the potential impact of inflation, but at this point we haven’t seen it yet.”
Phil Levy, Chief Economist at Flexport, said that shipping times and prices have dropped somewhat, and that American companies are accumulating more inventories of goods that were missing due to the pandemic. But it wasn’t clear what was driving the change, he said.
“Is this because people are paying attention?” He said. “Is it the season? Is it the slowdown in consumer demand?” I am in a dissatisfied position saying “I need to see more data.” “
Ceroca of the Port of Los Angeles claims that consumer demand has not yet fallen. The port recorded the busiest first quarter and second busiest April of the year. On Friday, we will announce a new number of cargo processed in May, which Mr. Seroca called “sensational.”
Seloka expects the port to be “earlier than normal peak season” as the blockade is lifted, volumes from China increase, and retailers bring in fall products early to avoid a slowdown in the supply chain. Said that.
“As inventory levels of appliances, furniture, and perhaps equipment increase, it could soften a bit in these segments,” he said. “But the retail products we buy in big boxes, home improvement stores, and even hardware stores in the neighborhood are still in very good shape.”
The slowdown “did not happen at the head of the forest,” he said.