U.S. imports have dropped 1.4 percent in what analysts say is another sign of economic problems, the Los Angeles Times reported. The downturn is being viewed as a poor harbinger for retail as the holiday season approaches. The drop “reflects the consumer-demand-driven weakness in the U.S. economy,” economist Paul Bingham told the Times. According to Global Insight, a research firm that monitors cargo for the largest U.S. retailers, the drop was the first at the 10 largest U.S. ports since 2005.
