National Retail Federation

The holiday sales forecast numbers are encouraging, with NRF forecasting holiday retail sales for 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...

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.

U.S. retail sales began 2022 where 2021 ended—with solid growth—despite issues posed by Omicron variant and high levels of inflation, according to data respectively issued today by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF).

NRF stated that a record year could be on tap for 2021 holiday retail sales (NRF defines holiday sales as sales from November 1-December 31, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants), projecting an increase between 8.5%-to-10.5%, coming in between $843.4 billion and $859 billion.

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $619.1 billion—were up 9.8% compared to February, while rising 27.7% annually, and the National Retail Federation reported that its calculation of March retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to a 7.4% seasonally-adjusted increase, from February, and a 17.7% unadjusted annual gain.

Commerce reported that January retail sales—at $568.2 billion—were up 5.3% compared to December and were up 7.4% annually, and NRF reported that its calculation of January retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to a 5.9% gain, for the month, on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to December and were up 10.7% annually on an unadjusted basis.

Commerce reported that total October retail sales—at $553.3 billion—were up 0.3% over September and were up 5.7% annually. And NRF’s retail sales data, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to October retail sales being up 0.2% on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to September, with a 10.6% unadjusted annual gain.

Commerce reported that total September retail sales—at $549.3 billion—were up 1.9% over August and were up 5.4% annually. And NRF pointed to September retail sales, which were paced by apparel, continuing a V-shaped recovery from the pandemic, with sales growing for the fourth consecutive month.

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.

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.

Retail sales data issued today by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF) showed modest sequential gains and varying annual gains.

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The NRF is calling for 2017 online and other non-store/online sales (which NRF includes in its over all number) to head up between 8 and 12 percent.

Sales in the months of November and December, excluding autos, gas, and restaurant sales, to reach $655.8 million.

Estimate comes in higher than the 10-year average of 2.7%, but falls short of the NRF’s 2015 estimate of 4.1%.