National Retail Federation

The holiday sales forecast numbers are encouraging, with NRF forecasting holiday retail sales to increase 6%-to-8% annually, coming in between $942.6 billion-to-$960.4 billion. In 2021, retail sales were up 13.5% compared to 2020, due likely to the timing of the pandemic in 2020, at $899.3 billion, setting a new all-time record. What’s more, it said that over the last 10 years, holiday retail sales have seen an average increase of 4.9%, with the caveat that pandemic-related spending over the last couple of years represented a large portion...

In a joint letter to President Biden, 322 local, state, and federal trade associations—spearheaded by the Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation (NRF)—calling on the Biden to continue to work with the United States railroad labor unions and railroads to ensure the tentative agreement between the parties, which was brokered by the White House, is ratified.

For August, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume - at 2.26 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) - was 3.5% above July and off 0.4% annually, marking the fourth annual decline in the last two years (through August) and for the second time since December 2021.

Commerce reported that August retail sales—at $683.3 billion—rose 0.3% compared to July, while posting a 9.1% annual increase. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to August retail sales increasing 0.1% over July and up 8% on an unadjusted basis annually.

For July, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume—at 2.18 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—was 3.1% below June and off 0.4% annually, marking the third annual decline in the last two years (through July) and for the first time since December 2021.

For June, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume—at 2.25 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—was down 5.9% compared to May’s 2.4 million TEU. May set a monthly import record, going back to when NRF initially began tracking imports, coming in ahead of the previous record, of 2.34 million TEU, set in March.

Commerce reported that June retail sales—at $680.6 billion—rose 1.0% compared to May, while posting an 8.4% annual increase. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to June retail sales increasing 0.6% over May and up 5.8% on an unadjusted basis annually.

For May, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume—at 2.4 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 6% compared to April and was up 2.7% annually. What’s more, this tally represents a new monthly import record, going back to when NRF initially began tracking imports, coming in ahead of the previous record, of 2.34 million TEU, set in March.

A pair of prominent Washington-based business groups -- the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- respectively sent letters this week to President Biden, calling on the White House to work with Class I rail carriers and 12 U.S.-based rail labor unions on reaching labor accord.

Not long after President Biden stated that the White House is discussing dropping tariffs levied against China by his predecessor Donald Trump, the Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation (NRF) penned a letter to Biden to “request immediate tariff relief to address the ongoing inflation facing American businesses, workers, and consumers.”

Commerce reported that April retail sales—at $677.7 billion—saw a 0.9% increase over March and an 8.2% annual gain. It also noted that total retail sales, from February 2022 through April 2022, increased 10.8% compared to the same period a year ago. Based on its Commerce’s data, retail sales have seen annual gains every month going back to March 2020. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to sales...

United States-bound retail container import volumes are seeing strong spring volumes, setting a new record in the process, as retailers focus on bringing in merchandise ahead of increasing costs and supply chain issues, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued late last week by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $665.7 billion—rose 0.5% compared to February and were up 6.9% annually. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to sales being flat on a seasonally adjusted basis from February, while rising 4% on an unadjusted basis annually, with sales off 0.7% sequentially and up 13.2% annually.

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $665.7 billion—rose 0.5% compared to February and were up 6.9% annually. NRF said that in its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, to focus on core retail, pointed to sales being flat on a seasonally adjusted basis from February, while rising 4% on an unadjusted basis annually, with sales off 0.7% sequentially and up 13.2% annually.

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