Port strike could impact local economy, price of goods

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Local consumers could start to feel the impact of the port strike involving workers from the International Longshoremen’s Association, according to the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.

The IMA said Illinois is the fourth largest exporting state in the country, exporting about 70 billion dollars worth of goods annually.

"Macon County, which gets the single largest share of its economy from manufacturing, can have an outsized impact on Decatur," said President and CEO of Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Mark Denzler.

"We get 77% of our coffee and tea through those ports. More than 60% of fertilizer moves through the East Coast ports."

Denzler said if an agreement is not reached soon, shoppers could potentially see the impact on grocery shelves and in retail stores in a matter of days.

"This is going to have an outsized impact, negative impact on central Illinois. We hope that both sides can come together and can get an agreement so that the average American consumer is not impacted."