Did you hear?… The National Retail Federation believes that GAFS category sales will increase

The National Retail Federation (NRF) believes that GAFS category sales — general merchandise, apparel, furniture, home furnishings, electronics, appliance, sporting goods, hobby, and book / music stores — will increase 6 percent in 2002, an increase of 2.3 percent over its prior forecast of 3.7 percent. Stronger consumer spending and an improving U.S. job market, as reported by the Commerce Department, led to the NRF upping its projections. On the less enthusiastic side, the NRF also believes that while clothing and accessories will also show a sales increase, it will be slight and barely make up for the extended period of weak sales realized by that category. For more information, click on www.nrf.com