Also. . .

* Following Tuesday’s report that imports from Asia through the Port of Long Beach rose 34% in March, the Port of Los Angeles reported that imports through its facility rose 39.6% last month. The nation’s two largest ports took in 310,642 freight containers from Asia during March, a jump of 82,213 containers, or 36% more than in March 1997. U.S. exports to Asia didn’t fall as much as expected as a result of the dollar’s rise. Los Angeles, the second-busiest U.S. port, said exports slipped 8.2% during March, to 76,610 containers. Long Beach said exports declined 16.9% to 88,518.