Cargo activity increases at Port of L.A.

January saw a 14.3 percent jump in inbound traffic compared with a year earlier. Outbound was up 12.6 percent. Those numbers are higher than what's generally expected for 2011 (2010 was a strong year so percentage comparisons might be lower). Strong trade activity could be a significant driver for the overall L.A. economy, but keep in mind that January is not a big month, especially for inbound traffic. Port of Long Beach has yet to release its monthly numbers.