Importsare predicted to rise by 3.5% in May according to the latest monthly reportfrom the National Retail Federation (NRF).

USports followed by the NRF report handled 1.3mteu in March, the latest month forwhich after-the-fact numbers are available.

Thenumber was up 5.1% from February, traditionally the slowest month of the year,and up 14.5% from March 2013.

Aprilwas estimated at 1.38mteu, up 6.1%