Media Center

NRF welcomed approval of tax reform legislation by the Senate Finance Committee and urged approval of the bill by the fulll Senate.

NRF welcomed approval of landmark tax reform legislation by the House and called on the Senate to act quickly to pass its version of tax reform.

The survey found 54 percent of consumers overall plan to spend about the same as last year, with 24 percent planning to spend more.

Retail sales in October increased 0.1 percent over September seasonally adjusted and were up 4.3 percent year-over-year, according to NRF. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.

69 percent of Americans – an estimated 164 million people – plan to or are considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend including Cyber Monday, according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

NRF says a tax reform plan unveiled by the Senate would provide a strong boost for businesses and consumers alike and shows that senators are committed to passing tax reform by the end of the year.

After months of record-setting volume as retailers stocked up for a busy holiday season, imports at the nation's major container ports should be essentially flat this month, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

NRF called fast approval of landmark tax reform legislation by the House Ways and Means Committee "an amazing accomplishment" and urged the full House to pass the measure as soon as possible.

NRF urged the House to approve legislation reversing an expanded definition of a "joint employer" adopted during the Obama administration that has increased businesses' exposure to lawsuits.

Retail industry employment declined by 18,000 jobs in October, not including automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, according to NRF calculations.