Dive Brief:

• The National Retail Federation estimates retail sales will rise nearly 4% during this holiday season.
• NRF is expecting totals which would surpass last year’s retail sales figures by 3.5% to $602.1 billion.
• The sales forecast from the major retail group takes into account that the current federal shutdown will soon be resolved before impacting the economy.

Dive Insight:

The holiday shopping season is soon approaching and is a critical time of the year for many retailers. Roughly 20% to 40% of yearly retail sales are made during the holidays. NRF's Shop.org division is forecasting 13% to 15% growth in e-commerce this holiday season. NRF’s sales forecast excludes sales from automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.