The expected spending would be second only to last year’s $23.6 billion, the highest in the 15-year history of the survey at an average $186 per person.

NRF welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upholds the constitutionality of a process that allows bad patents to be reexamined administratively and eliminates many lawsuits by "patent trolls."

With the U.S. Supreme Court holding oral arguments on whether online sellers can be required to collect sales tax the same as local stores, NRF says the time has come to update the court’s landmark 1992 ruling on the issue.

March retail sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February and 5 percent year-over-year as the economy continued to grow despite market volatility, unseasonable weather and uncertain economic policies, according to NRF.

Multiple trade associations sent a letter to the House Ways and Means committee, urging Congress to play a strong role in mitigating escalating trade tensions with China.

Nearly 90 industry leaders will speak as over 2,500 retailers, loss prevention executives, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement officers assemble in Dallas June 11-13 at the annual NRF PROTECT conference. 

NRF took CEOs from some of the nation’s largest and best known retail companies to the White House to meet with President Trump on tax reform, regulatory reform, the economy and other issues facing the industry.

Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to grow a healthy 5.8 percent year-over-year this month but could be threatened in the future if the developing trade war between the United States and China continues to escalate, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from NRF and Hackett Associates.

Amid fluctuations in weather and spring holidays, retail industry employment fell by 6,400 jobs seasonally adjusted in March but showed an increase of 30,800 unadjusted year-over-year, according to NRF. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

Statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay: "We are on a dangerous downward spiral and American families will be on the losing end."