The worldwide economic storm might ease by the end of the year, an economist told a gathering Wednesday of international shipping lines, terminal operators, retailers and trucking companies in Long Beach.

“The very worst part of this particular business cycle is occurring in this quarter, but as we move forward through the rest of the year, the decreases will diminish until the fourth quarter, when we actually move into the positive range,” said Joseph P. Magaddino, director of the global logistics program at Cal State Long Beach.

That hopeful view came during an otherwise gloomy assessment of the economic pain that would come first, delivered at the annual Pulse of the Ports conference sponsored by the Port of Long Beach. Some speakers warned that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were in danger of losing their competitive edge to other ports in the U.S. and Canada.

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