National Retail Federation

Logistics Management’s Jeff Berman recently caught up with Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy, about the Port Tracker Report and related retail supply chain developments.

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, for the National Retail Federation (NRF).

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, for the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Total retail sales—at $528.1 billion—were down 0.5% compared to January’s $530.9 billion, which was revised, and were up 4.3% compared to February 2019. Commerce said that total retail sales, from December 2019 through February 2020, rose 4.9% compared to the same period a year ago.

Given how the coronavirus continues to spread, the subsequent impact on global shipping operations is expected to be longer, larger, and more lasting than was first thought, coupled with factory shutdowns and travel restrictions in China affecting production according to the most recent edition of the Port Tracker report issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

According to the Global Port Tracker report released today, the coronavirus outbreak is expected to have a longer and larger impact on imports at major U.S. retail container ports than previously believed.

Commerce reported that January retail sales—at $529.8 billion—were 0.2% ahead of December’s revised $528.4 billion and were up 0.3% annually. NRF reported that January retail sales rose 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis over December and were up 2.7% unadjusted on an annual basis.

Commerce reported that December retail sales, at $529.6 billion, were up 0.3% over November and up 5.8% annually. NRF reported that December retail sales were up 0.5% from November to December on a seasonally adjusted basis and up 2.1% on an unadjusted basis rose 6.7% annually.

Commerce reported that October retail sales, at $526.5 billion, were up 0.3% compared to September and up 3.1% annually. NRF reported that October retail sales were up 0.2% from September to October on a seasonally adjusted basis and up 4.2% on an unadjusted basis.

NRF said it expects holiday retail sales to rise between 3.8%-to-4.2% to between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. Salesforce said it expects U.S. digital commerce revenue growth to rise 13% annually this year, with total sales pegged to hit $136 billion in the U.S. and $768 billion globally.

“The U.S. economy is continuing to grow and consumer spending is still the primary engine behind that growth,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay.

Commerce reported that August retail sales were up 0.4% annually, to $526.1 billion, and were up 0.8% over July’s $524.2 billion. NRF reported that August retail sales rose 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to July and were up 4.6% on an unadjusted basis annually.

Commerce reported July retail sales­­, at $523.5 billion, were up 0.7% over June and up 3.4% annually. NRF reported July retail sales increased 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis and 5.6% on an unadjusted annual basis.

Commerce reported the July retail sales­­, at $523.5 billion, were up 0.7% over June and up 3.4% annually, and NRF reported that July retail sales increased 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis and 5.6% on an unadjusted annual basis.

Commerce reported that June retail sales, at $519.9 billion, were up 0.4% compared to May and up 3.4% compared to June 2018, and the National Retail Federation reported that June retail sales were up 0.6% in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to May, and up 2.3% annually on an unadjusted basis.