NRF

WASHINGTON -- As the holiday season gets underway, retailers have reason to be optimistic, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) here, which revised its annual holiday forecast yesterday, following a recent flurry of healthy economic indicators.

WASHINGTON -- In response to the growing threat of organized crime against retailers, the National Retail Federation here has launched the Retail Loss Prevention Intelligence Network (RLPIN), a secure, Web-based computer database that will allow retailers to share information with each other and law enforcement agencies.

WASHINGTON -- With gift cards ranking third on consumers' wish lists this year, there is no sign that the popularity of the products is slowing down, according to the findings of the latest National Retail Federation (NRF) survey. The third annual NRF Gift Card Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that gift card sales will total $18.48 billion this holiday season, a 6.6 percent increase over 2004, when holiday gift card sales hit $17.34 billion. The average consumer will spend $88.03 on gift cards this holiday season, 15.6 percent of their holiday gift budget.

WASHINGTON -- Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. finished first in customer service among food and drug retailers in a new survey of nearly 9,000 consumers.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) said yesterday it will unveil the X06 Marketplace, an upscale gourmet market that demonstrates the most futuristic design components and technologies available to retailers, at its 95th Annual Convention & Expo, Jan. 15 to Jan. 18, 2006 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

WASHINGTON -- Although the month of September was hit by two hurricanes and drastic gas price hikes, retail sales continued to rise, the National Retail Federation (NRF) here said on Friday. Unadjusted retail sales for September (excluding automobile, gas station, and restaurant volume) rose a vigorous 7.0 percent over last year, and increased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from August.

WASHINGTON -- As consumers begin to dust off their brooms and witch's hats, retailers everywhere are stocking up on spooky merchandise in anticipation of the most haunting day of the year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). The NRF 2005 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that consumers are expected to spend $3.29 billion on Halloween this year, up 5.4 percent from $3.12 billion in 2004. Much of the increase in spending is expected to come from young adults.

WASHINGTON -- Coming after the strongest holiday season in five years, grocers and other retailers can expect only moderate holiday sales growth this year, the National Retail Federation here said yesterday. The trade group forecasted that total holiday retail sales--including grocery stores, discounters, department stores, and specialty stores--will increase 5.0 percent over last year, bringing holiday spending to $435.3 billion. In comparison, holiday sales in 2004 rose 6.7 percent to $414.7 billion.