In what officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey say is a sign of economic improvement at home and abroad, the total volume of imports and exports rose 9.6 percent at the region's ports during the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same period last year, the Star-Ledger reported.

Imports for the year's first three months rose 9.8 percent above 2009 levels while exports were up 9.4 percent.