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State of Logistics 2016: Pursue mutual benefit December retail sales finish 2016 on a high note State of Transportation Management Systems: Six trends to track in 2017 Chao stresses need for improved national infrastructure at Senate hearing 2017: Innovate, adapt & evolve More News It appears that holiday shoppers did their best to support the economy over the home stretch of 2016 as retail sales for the month of December showed gains, according to data issued by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF). Commerce reported that December retail sales were up 0.6 percent compared to November and up 4.1 percent annually at $469.1 billion. For all of 2016, Commerce said total retail sales saw a 3.3 percent annual increase, with sales form October through December up 4.1 percent annually compared to the same period in 2015. Retail trade sales saw a 4.3 percent annual gain and were up 0.8 percent from November to December. And non-store retailers were up 13.2 percent annually, likely due to increased e-commerce activity. The NRF reported that retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants, were up 0.2 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis from November to December and 3.2 percent on an unadjusted basis compared to December 2015. And for holiday sales, which NRF defines as retail sales during the months of November and December, NRF said there was a 4 percent gain to $658.3 billion, including $122.9 billion in non-store sales, which were up 12.6 percent annually. The total holiday sales number came in ahead of the NRF’s original forecast of $655.8 billion, and the NRF said this signals a strengthening economy, with consumers spending more than expected. The forecast is based on an economic model that uses several different types of indicators, including consumer credit, disposable […]