National Retail Federation

National Retail Federation survey also finds store merchandise credit/gift card fraud is troubling new problem for retailers.

Powering through their turkey-induced sleepiness, millions of Americans lined the sidewalks, store entryways and parking lots late Thursday night and by midnight on Black Friday

Weary shoppers returned to the stores in July as retailers as were aggressively promoting back-to-school sales. Retail industry sales for July (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 3.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year and also declined 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, according to the National Retail Federation.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to be up 16 percent in July compared with the same month a year ago, but double-digit increases seen in recent months should taper offer this fall as retailers cautiously manage their inventories

The National Retail Federation welcomes Senate approval of an amendment to financial services reform legislation that would direct the Federal Reserve to determine reasonable and proportional transaction fees for debit cards.

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to be up 10 percent in May with double-digit increases expected into this fall as the U.S. economy improves, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The National Retail Federation today urged the Vermont legislature to give final approval to legislation that would address credit card swipe fees, saying merchants should be able to give a discount to customers who pay by cash, check or debit card.

According to the National Retail Federation, March retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted over February and 5.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to be up 8 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago, and solid increases are expected to continue through the summer as the U.S. economy improves, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

According to the National Retail Federation, January retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and decreased 0.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year.