Retail sales in August decreased by 0.2 percent from July on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. 

Retailers, nonprofit organizations and a Baltimore city workforce agency today joined forces with the National Retail Federation Foundation to host a hiring fair for more than 100 job seekers who have recently completed Retail Industry Fundamentals, one of the NRF Foundation’s credentials in its RISE Up (Retail Industry Skills and Education) initiative.

A ruling by the South Dakota Supreme Court sets the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit an out-of-date ecommerce ruling but NRF says Congress should act on online sales tax rather than leaving the issue in the hands of the courts.

The National Retail Federation today urged congressional action on corporate tax reform, saying in an op-ed published in newspapers across the country that the average corporate worker earns more than $4,000 in lower wages each year as the result of high taxes. 

NRF and other industry associations are telling Congress that any new federal law on data breach notification should apply to all industries that handle consumer data, citing the recent breach at the Equifax credit reporting agency.

Imports at the nation's major retail container ports set an all-time monthly record this summer, and 2017 is expected to set a new yearly record, according to the mnthly Global Port Tracker report from NRF and Hackett Associates.

The National Retail Federation said retail sales for 2017 are now expected to grow between 3.2 and 3.8 percent over last year rather than the 3.7 - 4.2 percent forecast earlier this year. 

Retail industry employment saw a modest decline in August, decreasing 900 jobs from July, the National Retail Federation said today. The number excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. The economy overall saw gains of 156,000 jobs in August.

According to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, the average family with children in grades K-12 had completed only 45 percent of their shopping as of early August. 

WASHINGTON – Retail sales in July increased by 0.6 percent over June on a seasonally adjusted basis, triple the revised 0.2 percent growth seen in June, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation.