Looks like the holiday will be even jollier than first thought – at least for the nation’s retailers.
The National Retail Federation has revised its holiday forecast upward, expecting holiday sales to rise to 3.8 percent this year.
The overall forecast is a record $469.1 billion in sales. NRF’s initial forecast called for anticipated sales growth of [...] [...]
Halloween – it’s not just for kids anymore. Adults are spending more on the holiday than ever before – dressing up like zombies and vampires, vixens and nurses.
It’s grown into the second most popular holiday of the year, according to the National Retail Federation.
Americans are expected to spend $6.86 billion on Halloween costumes, candy and [...] [...]
One word describes retail sales in August: lackluster.
Despite back-to-school sales events, retail sales only increased .1 percent from July.
But compared with last August, sales were up 6 percent, said the National Retail Federation, an industry group.
“Consumer spending in August was tempered by a continued lack of confidence in the strength of our economy,” said NRF [...] [...]
As the economy improves, fewer people are interested in saving their tax returns for a rainy day.
According to the National Retail Federation, 13.2 percent plan to use their refunds for a major purchase – televisions or new furniture. That’s a slight increase from last year’s 12.5 percent.
But the majority of people are still saving – [...] [...]
The National Retail Federation says a value-added tax proposed to reduce the federal deficit could result in the loss of 850,000 jobs in the first yer, reduce gross domestic product for three years and bring a permanent drop in retail spending total $2.5 trillion during the first ten years.
The doom and gloom from the NRF [...] [...]
After a ho-hum 2009 and a disastrous 2008, holiday retail sales are expected to increase 2.3 percent this year to $447.1 billion, the National Retail Federation reports.
While that growth remains slightly lower than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.5 percent, it would be a marked improvement from both last year’s 0.4 percent uptick [...] [...]
Consumers continue to behave cautiously when it comes to spending – even on necessities – with more saying they’ve held out for promotions and discounts when shopping for school supplies.
A National Retail Federation report indicated 17 percent of families with school-age children said 100 percent of their purchases were influenced by bargains and coupons, up [...] [...]
Back to school spending is expected to reach $55.12 billion, making it the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays.
Spending is expected to increase slightly from 2009 and 2008 levels, according to the National Retail Federation.
But the economy still will play a role – more parents will buy more store-brand or [...] [...]
Fewer people will buy graduation gifts this year – but everyone who does will spend a little more.
The National Retail Federation says gift givers will buy for an average of two graduates this year, spending an average of $89.95 on gifts, up slightly from $88.01 last year. Total graduation spending is expected to reach $3.9 [...] [...]
Consumers are planning to spend a little bit more on mom this year.
Mother’s Day is the second largest consumer spending holiday – behind Christmas and Hanukah – and this year will be no exception. The average person will spend $126 to make mom feel special, up slightly from $123 last year. Total spending is [...] [...]