Center for Retail & Consumer Insights
The Center for Retail & Consumer Insights is the National Retail Federation’s hub for data-driven insights into the modern retail industry and the consumers who drive it.
The CRCI leverages best-in class data from trusted partners — like high-frequency consumer transaction data and large-scale, longitudinal polling — to generate more comprehensive, granular and timely insights into the mindset and behavior of consumers and the retailers that serve them. These insights help our members, industry partners, lawmakers and the media better understand the evolving retail industry and the far-reaching impacts consumers have on our industry, the economy and the policy landscape.
NRF members will enjoy exclusive access to additional CRCI products in 2024. Click here for more information on NRF membership.
All information produced by Affinity Solutions is anonymized and aggregated and does not include any personal identifiable information of an individual consumer.
Watch NRF CEO Matthew Shay and Affinity Solutions CEO Jonathan Silver as they discuss the new CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, and findings for October with CNBC’s senior economics reporter Steve Liesman.
October Retail Monitor
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, provides a first look at how retail sales performed last month.
The RM calculation of core retail sales — which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail — shows that retail sales were essentially flat, coming in marginally down .03% seasonally adjusted from September and up 2.63% year over year, unadjusted. In September, sales were up 0.09% month over month and up 4.39% year over year.
Learn more about the Retail Monitor.
Data is powered by Affinity Solutions. Learn more about custom insights by visiting here
October Retail Monitor, Sector Insights
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, offers a headline, month-over-month look at retail sales performance for 9 core retail sectors, plus restaurants.
October sales were up in five out of nine retail categories on a yearly basis, led by non-store, sporting goods/hobby/music/bookstores, and health and personal care, and up or unchanged in four out of nine categories on a monthly basis.
Data is powered by Affinity Solutions. Learn more about custom insights by visiting here
Consumer Pulse
Consumers face a number of headwinds in 2023 that impact their overall confidence; however, they remain relatively positive about their own financial security.
Using data from Prosper Insights & Analytics, NRF tracks both the percent of consumers who feel confident about the state of the economy over the next 6 months and the percent who feel secure about their own personal financial situation. Prosper’s consumer confidence data has been shown to be highly correlated with other major confidence indices.
2023 NRF Holiday Retail Sales Forecast Webinar
NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz and Vice President for Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discuss NRF’s 2023 holiday sales forecast and the impact of inflation on consumer spending and shopping trends.
Watch the recording from November 6th here.Retail Monitor FAQs
NRF’s Executive Director, Research Mark Mathews and Jonathan Silver, CEO and founder of Affinity Solutions share strategic insights from the newly launched CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions.
Watch the video.Members-only interactive Thanksgiving Weekend dashboard
Check out how consumer spending changes in the days before and after one of the biggest shopping periods of the year.
(NRF Members only. Log in to view.)
U.S. Consumer Confidence By State
Learn more about Retail’s Economic Impact by State >What's Next
- For more 2023 holiday consumer shopping trends and retailer forecasts, visit our Winter Holidays Headquarters page.
- NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show is just around the corner. Make sure to secure your All-Access Pass early and take advantage of discounted rates here.
- Stay tuned for next month’s release of the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions.
CRCI is committed to innovation and progress through our content and insights. To learn more about the methodology behind the data please visit our FAQ page here. To learn more about Member exclusive insights launching in 2024, please visit NRF membership.
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