WASHINGTON – Consumers are expected to spend a record $28.1 billion to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, according to a survey released Thursday by the National Retail Federation. That is an increase of $1.4 billion from last year. About 83% of U.S. adults are expected to celebrate the holiday this year. “There is a lot
WASHINGTON – Retail sales rebounded with huge gains in March as government checks fattened consumers’ bank accounts and more vaccination against COVID-19 made it easier for shoppers to get out of the house and lead the acceleration of the U.S. economy, the National Retail Federation said Thursday. “The dramatic increase of 17.7% in March retail
WASHINGTON – Former Macy’s executive Martine Reardon is joining the National Retail Federation as chief marketing officer and executive vice president of content and membership. Reardon spent the last decade with Macy’s, retailer of apparel, accessories, cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods under the Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury banners. She served as Macy’s chief
WASHINGTON – National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay responded to President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion “American Jobs Plan” by endorsing investments in the nation’s infrastructure, but arguing that hiking the corporate tax rate would hurt the economy. “Improving U.S. roads, railways, bridges and ports will help the retail industry continue to move the
WASHINGTON – Consumers plan to spend an average of $179.70 this Easter, the highest figure on record, according to results of the annual survey released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. A total of 79% of Americans will celebrate the holiday and spend a collective $21.6 billion, down slightly from
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that it expects U.S. retail sales to grow between 6.5% and 8.2% this year, topping $4.33 trillion, as more Americans get vaccinated and the economy reopens. “Despite the continuing health and economic challenges COVID-19 presents, we are very optimistic that healthy consumer fundamentals, pent-up demand and widespread
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation urged Congress to reject legislation that would make it easier for retail workers to unionize, calling it unreasonable and unworkable. “NRF has significant concerns with this sweeping legislation and its infringement on both employee and employer rights,” NRF senior vice president for government relations David French said. “The policies
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation on Friday named six members to its board of directors. The new members were elected during NRF’s annual winter board meeting, held virtually this year following NRF 2021: Retail’s Big Show – Chapter 1. Each will serve a two-year term until January 2023. “We are very proud to be
NEW YORK — After years of talk about the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform retail operations, the tools are beginning to make an impact in brick-and-mortar stores, as well as e-commerce. “Customer-driven commerce: How predictive, personalized digital fulfillment capabilities are transforming consumer experiences,” a session at the National Retail Federation’s Big
WASHINGTON — According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released this month by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, imports seen during 2020 appear to be headed toward a new record despite the coronavirus pandemic, and remain at high levels as 2021 begins. “Nobody would have thought last spring that 2020 would
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation was one of more than 180 organizations that called on Tuesday for Congress and president-elect Joe Biden to reform the nation’s immigration system. Among other steps, the groups said participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program should be allowed to remain in the country. “America’s retailers support
WASHINGTON – Retail sales during 2020’s November-December holiday season grew an unexpectedly high 8.3% over the same period in 2019 to $789.4 billion, the National Retail Federation said on Friday. That tops the NRF’s holiday forecast, and came despite a pandemic that disrupted holiday shopping. Online and other non-stores sales increased 23.9% to $209 billion.