There is a chart to go along with this article, which is also distressing:

Calculated Risk: LA Area Port Traffic Collapses in December
Inbound traffic was 19% below last December. This slowdown in exports (inbound traffic to the U.S.) is hitting Asian countries hard.

But even more shocking and important for the U.S. economy is that export traffic has collapsed. For the LA area ports, outbound traffic continued to decline in December, and was 30% below the level of December 2007. Export traffic is now at about the same level as in late 2005. So much for the export boom!

As a Republican, it is frustrating how the GOP is basically avoiding the issue. On fixing the economy, the Democrats appear to be the party of ideas. Right or wrong, Democrats are presenting solutions and arguing over their ramifications. Republicans appear to be sticking to talking-points.