Imports destined for the U.S. experienced year-over-year increases in October, although they were lower than the figures recorded in September, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

In October, U.S. imports grew by 5.8% year-over-year to 2.79 million TEU, marking the 14th consecutive month of growth but a 3.3% decline from the previous month. This annual increase was significantly lower than September's 13.4% and represented the slowest growth since October 2022, attributed to early shipping ahead of a brief port strike and hurricanes. Year-to-date, imports totaled 26.86 million TEU, an 11.8% rise. Notably, capital goods and auto imports declined, while apparel saw a 20.8% increase, suggesting shippers are preemptively adjusting to potential disruptions.