WASHINGTON — Between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, retailers hosted about 165 million shoppers in their stores and on the websites, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The survey found average spending per person over the five-day period was $313.29, with 69% of the money going
WASHINGTON — According to calculations released by the National Retail Federation, retail sales in October increased 0.4% over September on a seasonally adjusted basis and were up 5.6% year over year unadjusted. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants. “Today’s pickup in retail sales shows a healthy pace of spending and a sign of
WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation (NRF) has projected holiday retail sales in November and December — excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants — to increase between 4.3% and 4.8% over 2017 to $717.45 billion to $720.89 billion. The forecast compares with an average annual increase of 3.9% over the past five years. “Our forecast reflects
WASHINGTON— The National Retail Federation said on Wednesday that holiday retail sales this November and December will increase between 4.3% and 4.8% over last year’s figures. The average annual increase over the past five years has been 3.9%. “Our forecast reflects the overall strength of the industry,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in
As this issue of MMR goes to press, the economic forecast for the retail industry looks bright. Unemployment is low and the stock market is high. Consumer confidence is strong, and retail sales projections for the rest of the year, including the holiday season, are rosy. There is really only one dark cloud on the
WASHINGTON — Retail industry employment last month increased by 89,100, unadjusted for seasonal fluctuations, compared to the same month in 2017, the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported. The August retail employment figure represents a seasonally adjusted decline of 9,700 jobs from the previous month, NRF said. Seasonal distortions are common in August. NRF’s jobs figures
WASHINGTON — Retail industry employment last month increased by 89,100, unadjusted for seasonal fluctuations, compared to the same month in 2017, the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported Friday. The August employment figure represents a seasonally adjusted decline of 9,700 jobs from the previous month, NRF said. Seasonal distortions are common in August. The NRF’s jobs figures
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
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 — 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