Importers have been pulling forward orders and shifting shipping lanes as the Sep. 30 deadline looms in the negotiations between the International Longshoreman’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, covering ports from Maine to Texas.

Expanding on Asics’ second quarter results released earlier this week, Asics North America said the 16% growth in revenues here came largely from the U.S. wholesale channel, where sales to running specialty stores grew “strong double digits”.

The Taiwanese exercise equipment maker’s net income attributable to shareholders declined 12% in the second quarter to TWD 292.1 million ($9.3 mm) from TWD 333.3 million despite sales that grew 19% to TWD 10,307.8 million ($328.0 mm) from TWD 8,636.3 million.

Net loss at the luxury skiwear and lifestyle brand widened 27% to $3,388,000 from a loss of $2,673,000 on sales that inched down 1% to $974,000 from $988,000 prior for the first quarter ended June 30.

DECK has divested its struggling Sanuk sandal and casual slip-on footwear brand to Canadian apparel maker Lolë Brands, after first announcing its intent to sell last Oct.

Adjusted sales of sporting goods/hobby/book and music stores continued their seven-month streak of declines, falling 6.8% year-over-year to $8,165 million from $8,759 million in the important Back-to-School season, according to Commerce Dept. data.