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Mother’s Day expected to deliver highest consumer spending to date Market research Press releases 

Mother’s Day expected to deliver highest consumer spending to date

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2019 – Mother’s Day spending is expected to total a record $25 billion this year, up from $23.1 billion in 2018, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation. A total 84 percent of U.S. adults are expected to celebrate in honor of their mothers and other women in their lives. “Mother’s Day... Read More
March retail sales gains are ‘very encouraging’ and ‘set the stage’ for further improvements this year News Press releases 

March retail sales gains are ‘very encouraging’ and ‘set the stage’ for further improvements this year

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2019 – Retail sales were up 1 percent in March seasonally adjusted from February and up 0.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. “March’s numbers are very encouraging and set the stage for improved expectations for the economy in the coming months, especially since the... Read More
Retail employment dropped in March but overall job gains point to economic growth News Press releases 

Retail employment dropped in March but overall job gains point to economic growth

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 – Retail industry employment in March was down by 11,700 jobs seasonally adjusted from February and down 47,400 jobs unadjusted year-over-year, the Labor Department said today. The retail numbers, which exclude restaurants, came as the nation saw a monthly gain of 196,000 jobs overall. “March’s strong rebound in overall hiring throughout the economy is good news... Read More
February retail sales increased 2.7 percent over 2018 Market research Press releases 

February retail sales increased 2.7 percent over 2018

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2019 – Retail sales were down 0.7 percent in February seasonally adjusted from January but up 2.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year as delays and revisions related to the government shutdown continued to make comparisons difficult, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. “The weaker-than-expected February retail sales numbers reflect colder... Read More
Retail employment dipped in February despite long-term gains News Press releases 

Retail employment dipped in February despite long-term gains

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2019 – Retail industry employment in February was down by 6,100 jobs seasonally adjusted from January and down 5,300 jobs unadjusted year-over-year as employment growth across all industries slowed dramatically, the Labor Department said today. The retail numbers, which exclude restaurants, came as the nation saw a monthly gain of only 20,000 jobs overall, a fraction of... Read More
2018 holiday sales grew 2.9 percent amid turmoil Market research Press releases 

2018 holiday sales grew 2.9 percent amid turmoil

WASHINGTON, February 14, 2019 – Holiday retail sales during 2018 grew a lower-than-expected 2.9 percent over the same period in 2017 to $707.5 billion, the National Retail Federation said today after the Commerce Department released data that had been delayed by nearly a month because of the recent government shutdown. “All signs during the holidays seemed to show that consumers... Read More
NRF forecasts retail sales will grow between 3.8 and 4.4 percent Market research News Press releases 

NRF forecasts retail sales will grow between 3.8 and 4.4 percent

WASHINGTON, February 5, 2019 – The National Retail Federation today forecast that retail sales during 2019 will increase between 3.8 percent and 4.4 percent to more than $3.8 trillion despite threats from an ongoing trade war, the volatile stock market and the effects of the government shutdown. “We believe the underlying state of the economy is sound,” NRF President and... Read More
Retail jobs grew nearly 15,000 in January over December Market research Press releases 

Retail jobs grew nearly 15,000 in January over December

WASHINGTON, February 1, 2019 – Retail industry employment in January was down by 15,100 jobs unadjusted from a year earlier but increased 14,800 jobs seasonally adjusted from December, the National Retail Federation said today. The retail numbers, which exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, came as the nation added 304,000 jobs overall compared with December, the Labor Department said.... Read More
Fewer consumers celebrating Valentine’s Day but those who do are spending more Marketing Press releases 

Fewer consumers celebrating Valentine’s Day but those who do are spending more

WASHINGTON, January 29, 2019 – Americans are expected to spend a record amount on Valentine’s Day this year despite a years-long decrease in the percentage of people celebrating the holiday, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. “The vast majority of Valentine’s Day dollars are still spent on significant others,... Read More
Retail jobs grew 37,600 year-over-year in December News Press releases 

Retail jobs grew 37,600 year-over-year in December

Retailers hired 576,800 seasonal workers for holidays WASHINGTON, January 4, 2018 – Retail industry employment in December increased by 15,200 jobs seasonally adjusted from November and 37,600 jobs unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said today. The retail gains, which exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, came as the nation added 312,000 jobs overall, the Labor Department said. “Today’s... Read More
Procrastinators rush to meet holiday deadline Market research Press releases 

Procrastinators rush to meet holiday deadline

134 million Consumers Plan to Shop on Super Saturday WASHINGTON, December 19, 2018 – More than 40 percent of holiday shoppers surveyed expect to finish their holiday gift shopping by today, but the biggest procrastinators will still be buying gifts through Christmas Eve, according to the annual consumer sentiment survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights... Read More
NRF reports November retail sales up 5 percent over 2017 News Press releases 

NRF reports November retail sales up 5 percent over 2017

November Retail Sales Increase 5 Percent Over 2017, Putting Holiday Spending on Track to Meet NRF Forecast WASHINGTON, December 14, 2018 – November retail sales were up 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted from October and increased 5 percent unadjusted year-over-year, completing the first half of the holiday shopping season with spending on track to easily meet the National Retail Federation’s forecast,... Read More
Retail jobs grew 18,600 in November, accounted for 12 percent of nationwide job growth News Press releases 

Retail jobs grew 18,600 in November, accounted for 12 percent of nationwide job growth

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2018 – Retail industry employment in November increased by 18,600 jobs seasonally adjusted from October, accounting for 12 percent of the 155,000-job increase reported by the Labor Department for the economy overall, the National Retail Federation said today. Year-over-year, retail employment was down by 16,300 jobs unadjusted as a tight labor market made it difficult to fill... Read More
October retail sales increased 5.6 percent over last year Press releases 

October retail sales increased 5.6 percent over last year

WASHINGTON, November 15, 2018 – Retail sales in October increased 0.4 percent over September on a seasonally adjusted basis and were up 5.6 percent year-over-year unadjusted, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants. “Today’s pickup in retail sales shows a healthy pace of spending and a sign of ongoing consumer... Read More
Strong U.S. job growth good sign for holiday sales, retail employment nearly unchanged from September News Press releases 

Strong U.S. job growth good sign for holiday sales, retail employment nearly unchanged from September

WASHINGTON, November 2, 2018 – Retail industry employment in October remained essentially unchanged from September, dropping only 900 jobs despite the loss of 8,800 jobs year-over-year in the face of two major hurricanes since Labor Day, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. Overall, U.S. businesses added 250,000 jobs in October –... Read More