News
The National Retail Federation of the U.S. has recently lowered its retail sales forecast for 2015 because of unexpected slow growth recorded during the first half of the year, similar to the industry's experience in 2014. However, NRF expects sales will steadily increase through the remainder of the year.
NRF forecasted in February that retail sales would grow 4.1 percent in 2015 over 2014, but the revision lowers the forecast to 3.5 percent.
NRF calculated that sales grew 2.9 percent during the first half of 2015 and are expected to grow at a more positive pace of 3.7 percent over the next five months. The estimates include general retail sales and non-store sales, and exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants. Revised non-store sales are now expected to grow between 6 and 8 percent, still within the 7 to 10 percent range originally forecast.
