Americans once made their own costumes and candy. Now, the holiday has rapidly commercialized, transforming into an economic juggernaut.
Category: National Retail Federation
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Retail Sales Surpass Expectations, Sign of Solid US Economy
A new report showing a rise in retail sales in September indicates that consumer spending, a key engine of economic growth, remains robust.
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Holiday Sales Growth Expected to Normalize to Prepandemic Levels
Despite shoppers’ election-year concerns and worries about the economy, retail executives predict sales to increase as much as 3.5 percent over last year’s holiday season.
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Holiday Spending Increased, Defying Fears of a Decline
While the pace of growth slowed, spending stayed strong because of robust job growth and strong wage gains.
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Retail Group Retracts Startling Claim About ‘Organized’ Shoplifting
The National Retail Federation had said that nearly half of the industry’s $94.5 billion in missing merchandise in 2021 was the result of organized theft. It was likely closer to 5 percent.
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Is the Holiday Shopping Season Going to Be a Success? The Answer Is Murky.
Black Friday weekend had a decent turnout for retailers, but it’s unclear if the rest of the season will deliver for the industry.
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Black Friday Isn’t What It Used to Be
Big discounts, many of them online only, start appearing well before Thanksgiving and will run long after. Some people still go to the mall, though.
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Holiday Retail Sales Are Expected to Increase, but at a Slower Pace
Spending in that crucial period is predicted to rise 3 to 4 percent from last year, as the economy cools and demand normalizes.
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The Retail C.E.O. Pipeline Is Running Dry
The battered industry’s next generation of leaders needs a complex set of skills, yet scaled-down store training programs aren’t meeting demand.
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Retail Sales Fell in November, Despite Black Friday
With food and gas prices still high, U.S. shoppers were more reluctant to spend on more discretionary items as the holiday shopping season arrived.
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Billions of Dollars at Stake in a Puzzling Holiday Shopping Season
It promises to be unpredictable, with retailers and consumers still figuring out how much will be spent and on what kinds of goods.