The world is a shaky place today, and, according to Deloitte’s 2020 Retail & Distribution Industry Outlook, uncertainty is the most certain thing about what’s ahead in 2020.
The National Retail Federation and other associations welcomed news that the U.S. and China have agreed on a “phase one” trade deal, according to recent media reports.
Retail sales in November increased only 0.1% seasonally adjusted over October and were up 2.1% unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation reported. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.
Manufacturing sector economic activity contracted in November, even as the overall economy grew for the 127th consecutive month, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
Retail sales in October increased 0.2% seasonally adjusted over September and were up 4.2% unadjusted year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.
Annual gains in homeowner spending for improvements and repairs are set to give out by the second half of next year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Retail sales in September were up 4.5% year-over-year, but down 0.1% seasonally adjusted from August as the National Retail Federation cited ongoing consumer concerns over U.S.-China tensions for the slight decrease between August and September.
The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is forecasting a strong holiday season that will see most shoppers visiting their favorite brick-and-mortar retailers to meet their gift-giving needs.
The National Retail Federation said it expects holiday retail sales during November and December to increase between 3.8% and 4.2% over 2018 to a total of between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion.
Deloitte, in its annual end-of-year retail forecast, said it expects holiday retail sales to increase between 4.5% and 5% in 2019 and exceed $1.1 trillion for the November to January timeframe.
Retail sales were up 0.4% in August seasonally adjusted from July and up 4.6% unadjusted year-over-year, reported the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.
Retail sales were up 0.9% in July seasonally adjusted from June and up 5.6% unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.
A Coresight Research Insight Report asserts that major retailers in the U.S. have announced 7,567 store closures so far this year compared with 5,524 stores all of last year, but it isn’t all bad news.
Growth in residential remodeling spending is expected to slow considerably by the middle of next year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Despite continued concerns about the impact of tariffs on prices of consumer products, shoppers started the summer season by opening their wallets.
The topic of tariffs is one that is dominating conversations across the housewares landscape as retailers and suppliers work to develop solutions to deal with looming price increases that are expected to touch nearly every segment in the industry.
President Donald Trump has delayed a new round of tariffs that would have put a 25% surcharge on an additional $300 billion worth of products made in China, which would have included a broad range of housewares.
The National Retail Federation is backing a bill that would strengthen congressional authority over tariff increases such as those imposed by the Trump administration during the past year.
The National Retail Federation has reported that retail sales, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, rose 0.5% in May seasonally adjusted from April and 3.2% unadjusted year-over-year.
We’re approaching the midway point of a year that started with so much forward momentum. But after the uneven retail sales results released the past few weeks, uneasiness is setting in as the housewares business speeds toward the second half.