National Retail Federation Company Profile
As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities at home and abroad, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation.
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National Retail Federation
325 7th Street, NW Suite 1100Washington, DC, 20004
United States
202-783-7971
800-673-4692
202-737-2849
National Retail Federation News & Resources
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U.S.-bound import growth track remains promising, notes Port Tracker report
April 9, 2024
Amid various supply chain issues, United States retail container ports are expected to see imports top the 2-million mark in May for the first time since October, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.
NRF 2024 retail sales forecast calls for growth
March 21, 2024
NRF is pegging 2024 retail sales to increase between 2.5%-to-3.5% to between $5.23 trillion and $5.28 trillion. Should this forecast come to fruition, NRF said that it would top 2023 retail sales, which rose 3.6% to $5.1 trillion.
National Retail Federation 2024 retail sales forecast calls for growth
March 21, 2024
NRF is pegging 2024 retail sales to increase between 2.5%-to-3.5% to between $5.23 trillion and $5.28 trillion. Should this forecast come to fruition, NRF said that it would top 2023 retail sales, which rose 3.6% to $5.1 trillion.
February retail sales see gains, reports Commerce and NRF
March 14, 2024
Commerce reported that February retail sales, at $700.7 billion, rose 0.6% compared to January and were up 1.5% annually. NRF reported that February’s core retail sales, which it bases on Census data and excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, saw a 0.2% seasonally-adjusted increase over January and a 5.5% annual increase on an unadjusted basis.
Port Tracker report presents a positive outlook for first half U.S.-bound import numbers
March 8, 2024
For January, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker reported that import volume, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.96 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), a 4.7% increase over December, and an 8.6% annual increase.
Retailers Forecast Import Growth Despite Red Sea Delays
February 13, 2024
Retailers have generally navigated around the Red Sea cargo disruptions, but trade groups said costs will begin to rise even as they project a growth in imports.
Port Tracker report points to import volume growth over the first half of 2024
February 9, 2024
For calendar year 2023, total U.S.-bound retail container imports, at 22.3 million TEU, were down 12.8% compared to 2022. The report observed that this was in line with expectations, adding that the shift to growth in its forecast is intact.
Industry experts assess Red Sea shipping situation in House T&I Committee hearing
February 2, 2024
With the global supply chain remaining on high alert amid the series of attacks on the Red Sea shipping lane by the Yemeni Houthi pirates in response to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, a hearing held this week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, examined the impact of this situation on various aspects of goods movement and the supply chain.
ATA warns of ‘tangled mess’ due to latest Labor Department independent contractor ruling
January 9, 2024
A new regulatory finding by the Labor Department will result in a “tangled mess” for trucking’s estimated 350,000 independent contractors, the nation's largest trucking lobby is warning.
November retail sales see continued growth, reports Commerce and NRF
December 14, 2023
Commerce reported that November retail sales, at $705.7 billion, were up 0.3% compared to October and rose 4.1% compared to November 2022. NRF reported that November retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 3.3% annually on an unadjusted basis on a three-month moving average and up 3.7% annually through November on an annual year-to-date basis.
Toy Imports Remain Strong Ahead of 2023 Holiday Season
November 22, 2023
While toy imports are down 30% year-over-year, they remain at 2019 pre-COVID levels, suggesting this holiday season may not be all doom and gloom for retailers.
October retail sales see mixed results
November 15, 2023
Commerce reported that total October retail sales, at $705.0 billion, were off 0.1% compared to September and posted a 2.5% annual gain. NRF reported that October retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 3.1% annually on an unadjusted basis on a three-month moving average through October, while posting a 3.7% annual gain through the first ten months of 2023.
October retail sales are mixed based on Commerce and NRF data
November 15, 2023
Commerce reported that total October retail sales, at $705.0 billion, were off 0.1% compared to September and posted a 2.5% annual gain. NRF reported that October retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 3.1% annually on an unadjusted basis on a three-month moving average through October, while posting a 3.7% annual gain through the first ten months of 2023.
Port Tracker report calls for lower U.S.-bound import levels over balance of 2023
November 9, 2023
The report said that should its projections for the remainder of 2023 come to fruition, the full-year total, at 22.1 million TEU, which would mark a 13.5% annual decline compared to 2022’s 25.5 million TEU, which was off 1.2% annually compared to 2021’s all-time high of 25.8 million TEU.
NRF calls for solid 2023 Holiday Season retail sales
November 2, 2023
NRF’s holiday sales forecast numbers are optimistic and positive, with 2023 holiday season retail sales pegged to be up 3%-to-4% annually, coming in between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion.