Source: National Retail Federation (NRF)
Notes: Retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase by 3.1% this year, forecasts the NRF, which also forecasts an increase of 6-9% in non-store sales. While the NRF notes that the 3.1% forecast growth is higher than the 10-year average of 2.7%, that 10-year average span the recessionary years that include a 3.6% dip in 3009. Indeed the 3.1% increase for this year is flat with preliminary growth estimates for last year, and would be the joint lowest level of growth since 2009.
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