*Port traffic keeps improving

What's especially striking is the 32.3 percent jump in inbound traffic last month at the Port of Los Angeles.That would suggest a bullishness by retailers about the back to school and holiday seasons (or at least a bullishness when these orders were placed some months ago). Outbound traffic, which had been outpacing the inbound activity for some time, was up 12.6 percent. (Long Beach numbers are not yet in.) Of course 2009 was the pits for container traffic, so the big increases over last year should be taken in context.

*Port of Long Beach reports a 9 percent jump in inbound traffic and a 12.7 percent increase in outbound.