Economic Blast
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 101.3 in March from revised 98.8 reading in February.Consumers were more optimistic about the future, but a little less impressed with current economic conditions.Over the past year, employers have added nearly 3.3 million jobs, the fastest 12-month pace of hiring since 1998. Consumers are certainly acting more confident: Their spending rose at a 4.4 percent annual rate from October through December, the fastest pace in eight years!
Quotable
"An Appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."- Sir Winston Churchill
Ramp/Dock Report: April 2015
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long beach are finally reporting a reduction in vessels at anchor and expect to be back to normal by the end of May! The Marine Exchange of Southern California reported Monday that containerships awaiting berthing space were down to 11 from last week's high of 27.
If Mexico maquiladora is of interest, see Peter Leach's excellent article in the Journal of Commerce March 30th edition: http://www.joc.com/international-trade-news/mexico-evolves-trade-giant-corruption-remains_20150330.html?mgs1=2ab6jGgWYn.
U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 277,854 containers and trailers, up 6.7 percent compared to 2014.Congratulations to the following IANA members for their election to the IANA board:
* Katie Famer, BNSF Railway Vice President to Chairman
* Adriene B. Bailey, Yusen Logistics America, Vice President to Vice Chairman
* Kevin Lhotak, Reliable Transportation Specialists, Inc., President to Treasurer
* Jeffrey R. Brashares, senior vice president, Sales and National Accounts, TTS, LLC; to Director
* David W. Manning, president, TCW, Inc.; to Director
* James I. Newsome III, president and CEO South Carolina Ports Authority; to Director
* Garry Old, president and chief executive officer, COFC Logistics, LLC. To Director
Lessons from the Past
While researching various quotes for this month's newsletter, I came across a quote from Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived from 551-479 BC. The writings of Confucius are well known and well-read throughout the world. The quote that caught my attention however was very simple and straightforward. It is: "Better to be upright with poverty than depraved with abundance." Something told me that I had heard this before!
Proverbs 28:6 says: "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse." This proverb is attributed to King Solomon of Judah circa 967-940 BC. The study of antiquities tells us that the use of proverbs as a teaching tool had been used as far back as 3000 BC in Egypt. One could claim plagiarism, but that would be unfair! The reality is that truth is universal and can reach all nations, peoples and open minds, if only we have ears to hear!