Retailers Oppose USTR Shipping Remedies Proposal
The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association submitted joint comments regarding proposed action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.
‘California Sober’ Movement Changing the Way Consumers Drink
The ‘California Sober’ movement, where individuals swap alcohol for cannabis, functional beverages or simply moderation, is a trend that's here to stay. And with the global alcohol-free beverage market projected to surpass $225 billion by 2030, the question isn’t if this movement will redefine drinking culture, it’s how quickly.
FedEx to Launch Easy Returns at 3,000 Locations Across the US
FedEx Corporation is launching a new service called FedEx Easy Returns, supported by Blue Yonder. This offering will allow FedEx customers to access a low-cost, box- and label-free returns solution launching with approximately 3,000 drop-off locations in the network of FedEx Office and Kohl’s stores in the summer, with additional expansion plans across the U.S. later.
Consumers Still Apprehensive Despite Healthy Economy
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed modest month-over-month retail sales growth in February amid consumer worries over inflation and Washington policy decisions.
New Report Reveals AI is Reshaping the Hiring Process
Artificial intelligence (AI) integration into the workplace is progressing rapidly, with HR professionals and employees adopting AI tools to help with various tasks. To better understand how the workforce interacts with AI, hiring platform HireVue surveyed over 4,000 HR leaders and employees in their latest report, which found that AI adoption surged in 2025.
Retail and Restaurant Sales Accelerate in February
While total spending growth was nearly flat compared to January, sector-level trends showed consumers shifting more spend to retailers and restaurants in February and spending less at service-based businesses.
Census Data Shows Slower Retail Sales in January
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows retail sales slowed in January following a strong holiday season but still rose year over year.
Small Business Sales Continue to Rise in the New Year
Payments and financial services technology provider Fiserv, Inc. published the Fiserv Small Business Index for January 2025. Sales growth persisting through January was a welcome start to the new year for small businesses, many of which were coming off a strong holiday season.
Companies Scaling Back DEI Commitments in 2025
A new survey conducted by Resume.Org found that 1 in 8 companies are reducing or eliminating DEI efforts this year, with many citing shifts in the political climate as a key factor.
December Sales Show Strong Growth
Retail sales jumped strongly in December, boosted in part by two busy holiday shopping days during Thanksgiving weekend falling in the final month of the year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
eTail Palm Springs 2025
eTail Palm Springs is coming back to the the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Springs, California from February 24-27. With a focus on e-commerce and digital marketing, this retail event will feature a variety of speakers and educational sessions discussing the latest trends in e-commerce.
Shoplifting Incidents Jump 93% Since Pre-COVID
Retailers reported a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 versus 2019 and a 90% increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting over the same time period, according to an NRF study.
Top Headaches for Supply Chain Managers for 2025
Based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. supply chain managers, the Supply Chain Integrity Outlook 2025 by Impinj research report reveals a data accuracy gap that leaves retailers struggling to find the level of insights, visibility and accuracy required to drive confidence in their supply chain and respond quickly to market changes.
Local vs. Online: Where Shoppers Are Spending This Holiday Season
A recent Lightspeed Commerce survey reveals some nuances when it comes to shopping locally. While many stated that shopping locally is important to them, their enthusiasm often varies depending on pricing, quality and experience.
157 Million Consumers to Shop on Super Saturday
An estimated 157.2 million consumers plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, according to an NRF survey. The estimate is up from 141.9 million Super Saturday shoppers last year and is the second-highest number after 2022’s 158.5 million figure.
November Experienced Sales Growth
Moderate retail sales growth continued in November even as two of the holiday season’s busiest shopping days bumped over into December and weren’t included in the month’s totals.
Small Business Insights for 2025
American Express issued its new Amex Trendex: Small Business Edition, finding that small businesses anticipate a period of stability in 2025, while they invest in technology to drive business growth.
Retail Returns Expected to Total $890 Billion
Returns continue to pose a significant cost for the retail industry, with total returns projected to reach $890 billion in 2024. Retailers estimate that 17% of their annual sales in 2024 will be returned.
197 Million Consumers Shop Over Thanksgiving Weekend
The five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday saw an estimated 197 million shoppers. The figure is the second highest number in the survey’s history after last year’s record of 200.4 million.
Top Toys and Gifts for the Holidays
As a record number of people (183.4 million) are expected to shop during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a new survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics reveals the most popular toys and gifts consumers plan to purchase this holiday season.
