American consumers powered through the winter weather lifting retail sales in February. According to the National Retail Federation – the world’s largest retail trade association – February retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.2 percent adjusted month-to-month and 2.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year. “Today’s positive retail sales report indicates that the economy… Keep reading →
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The National Council of Chain Restaurants issued the following comments from Executive Director Rob Green on the hearing held today by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage: “Today’s hearing is an exercise in rehearsed political talking points that ignore the practical reality of what… Keep reading →
The National Retail Federation today issued the following statements from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz on the January jobs report: “While it is always positive to see an increase in private sector hiring and a decrease in unemployment, it is alarming that employment can’t shift into a higher gear,”… Keep reading →
Positive retail sales numbers in the month of October point to a good holiday sales season ahead. According to the National Retail Federation – the world largest retail trade association – October retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 2.5 percent seasonally adjusted over September, and 4.2 percent unadjusted from 2012. “Consumer spending… Keep reading →
While government statistics released today show a slight decrease in retail sales in September, driven by the automobile sector, the National Retail Federation’s figures, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, indicate broad sales gains in most retail sectors. According to NRF, retail sales increased a healthy 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from last month, and… Keep reading →