J. Craig Shearman

Dec 5, 2024 | nrf.com | J. Craig Shearman

“Even though the traditional kick-off to the holiday season started with Black Friday, this holiday shopping season was already in full swing.”WASHINGTON – Strong results during the third quarter and continued growth in key economic data since then have set the stage for a solid holiday season, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said today.

Nov 19, 2024 | nrf.com | J. Craig Shearman

“Arbitrarily high swipe fees are adding inflationary pressure to the U.S. economy and prevent retailers and other merchants from growing their businesses.”WASHINGTON – Growing credit card swipe fees are driving up costs for retailers and prices for consumers but could be reined in by passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, the National Retail Federation told the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Nov 15, 2024 | nrf.com | J. Craig Shearman

“October sales were a good early step forward into the holiday shopping season, which is now fully underway."WASHINGTON – Data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that retail sales grew solidly over the past two months, demonstrating households’ capacity to spend and the strength of the economy, National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.

Nov 11, 2024 | nrf.com | J. Craig Shearman

"October sales have set the stage for a good start to the holiday shopping season.”WASHINGTON – Retail sales bounced back strongly in October as the economy remained in good shape and consumers moved past concerns about a port strike and other issues that slowed September’s sales, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released today by the National Retail Federation.

Nov 8, 2024 | nrf.com | J. Craig Shearman

"Neither of these developments is good for retailers, their customers or the economy.”WASHINGTON – Import volumes at the nation’s major container ports could be higher than previously expected for the remainder of this year as retailers face another potential East Coast/Gulf Coast port strike and tariff increases planned by President-elect Donald Trump, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.