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The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French after the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 was introduced in the U.S. House.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to drop to nearly its lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic this month, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

A recession is unlikely and the economy is expected to see slight growth in 2023 as consumers continue to cope with inflation and high interest rates, NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz says.

NRF statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French after the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act were introduced in the U.S. Senate.

Consumers are expected to spend $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $23.9 billion in 2022 and one of the highest spending years in survey history, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Retail sales during 2022’s November-December holiday season grew 5.3% over 2021 to $936.3 billion, falling short of NRF forecast amid continuing inflation and high interest rates, NRF said. While holiday growth was less than expected, sales for the year grew 7% over 2021 to $4.9 trillion, meeting NRF’s forecast of between 6% and 8% growth for the year.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association, the Footwear Retailers & Distributors of America, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the United States Fashion Industry Association have released a study that calls out detrimental economic impacts of Section 301 tariffs.

The NRF Foundation today announced that Adam Lukoskie will succeed Bill Thorne as the nonprofit organization’s executive director. The NRF Foundation Board of Directors approved the transition at its meeting earlier this month in New York City. Lukoskie currently serves as vice president of the NRF Foundation and will assume his new role in January 2023.

The eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors took place Sunday night at the New York Marriott Marquis to recognize the outstanding leadership of retail executives, award student scholarships and highlight retail as an industry of opportunity. The event raised nearly $3 million to fund the NRF Foundation’s career development programs and resources.

The National Retail Federation and Paris-based event organizer Comexposium announced that Retail’s Big Show will expand to Asia Pacific beginning in 2024 with a new annual conference and exhibition that is expected to draw thousands of retailers and business partners from across the region. The inaugural NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific will be held June 11 – 13, 2024, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, six months after NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show in New York City.