WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation has revised its retail sales forecast for 2018, saying it now expects sales to increase 4.5% or more, up from its earlier projection of a year-on-year gain in the range of 3.8% to 4.4%. “Higher wages, gains in disposable income, a strong job market and record-high household net worth
The retail industry is a major employer of Americans, with the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimating that the retail trade (including food services and drinking places) accounts for 28,984,100 jobs in the United States. That compares to 19,855,000 jobs in health care and social assistance, and 12,596,500 jobs in manufacturing. It is possible to imagine
WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation denounced new privacy legislation passed in California Thursday. The law has been described as the strictest online privacy law in the country, giving consumers more control over the data companies collect about them. NRF called it “deeply flawed” and said retailers’ ability to provide customer service could be severely
The National Retail Federation is once again using a funny TV commercial in an effort to send a serious message. Last year the trade group had a hit with what looked like one of those late-night commercials for dubious products. The commercial, which ran during the Fox News Channel’s “FOX & Friends,” and during NBC’s
WASHINGTON — Father’s Day spending is expected to total a near-record $15.3 billion this year, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. According to the survey, 77% of Americans plan to celebrate Father’s Day, and they will spend an average of $133 per person. “We are
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Tuesday on the question of whether online sellers can be required to collect sales tax in the same way that brick-and-mortar stores in local communities do. The National Retail Federation contends that they should, arguing in a brief filed in November that changing technology has
Despite his fiery rhetoric and sometimes unpredictable policy positions during the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump has mostly turned out to be the kind of president that business leaders can appreciate. The National Retail Federation praised the tax reform bill signed into law by President Trump, for example, calling it a “major victory for lawmakers.” And
WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued statements on Thursday warning that tariffs meant to punish China for its trade practices would hurt American consumers. The retailer groups urged President Trump to refrain from imposing tariffs as a retaliatory measure against China’s predatory trade practices — which
WASHINGTON — Easter spending is expected to total $18.2 billion this year, according to a survey released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. A total of 81% of Americans will celebrate the holiday and spend an average of $150 per person, the survey found. That is down from last year’s
WASHINGTON — More than two dozen retail companies — including Walmart, Costco Wholesale Corp., Dollar Tree Inc. and Target Corp. — sent a letter on Monday to President Trump urging him to refrain from imposing tariffs on China and alleging that American families would be hurt by such a move. In a separate letter to
WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation (NRF) on Monday named Ellen Davis president of the NRF Foundation, the NRF’s philanthropic arm. Davis will continue to serve NRF as the organization’s senior vice president for research and strategic initiatives. As president, Davis will oversee the foundation’s programs in job-readiness training, education, scholarships and credentialing. “Under Ellen’s
WASHINGTON – Retail sales in January were nearly as strong as during the holiday season, dropping only 0.26% on a seasonally adjusted basis from December, according to the National Retail Federation. And sales rose 5.4% compared to last January. “These numbers reinforce a positive start to 2018 that reflects ongoing consumer optimism brought about by