News

Industry Updates

April 25, 2022

March Retail Sales Grew Despite Higher Inflation 
Retail sales grew in March even as inflation edged higher, the National Retail Federation. “March retail sales show that consumers have maintained their ability to spend in the face of record-level inflation, supply chain issues and geopolitical unrest,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers are adapting and shopping smarter for themselves and their families. We believe the strength of the consumer can carry the economy through this considerable economic uncertainty if policymakers implement measured policies and do not overreact to current conditions.” | More Information


U.S. Ports Seeing Brief Slowdown from Last Year but Imports Remain High
The nation’s major retail container ports have begun to catch up with the backlog of cargo seen over the past several months, but could experience another surge this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.11 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in February, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 2.3 percent from January but up 13 percent year-over-year. Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said volumes remained high in February despite factories in parts of Asia closing for the Lunar New Year holiday because U.S. ports were able to handle cargo from ships already waiting for a berth. | More Information


Firearms Industry Economic Impact Rises 269 Percent Since 2008 
The total economic impact of the firearm and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $70.52 billion in 2021, a 269 percent increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to over 375,819, a 126 percent increase in that period, according to a report released by the NSSF, the firearm industry trade association. On a year-over-year basis, the industry’s economic impact rose from $63.5 billion in 2020 to $70.52 billion. Total jobs increased by over 33,000 in the same period, from 342,330 to 375,819. The firearm industry has broader impacts throughout the economy, and it supports and generates business for companies unrelated to firearms, including banking, retail, accounting, metalworking, and printing. | More Information


Legislation to Conserve America’s Largest Watershed
ASA Inland Fisheries Policy manager, Connor Bevin, discusses urgent legislation making its way through Congress. The Mississippi River Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (MRRRI), modeled on other successful regional restoration programs, will authorize $300 million in federal funding to support integrated state efforts to improve water quality, conserve wildlife habitats and combat the spread of invasive species. | More Information

 

Industry Updates

March 25, 2022
NRF Forecasts Annual Retail Sales to Grow Between 6 Percent and 8 Percent 
The National Retail Federation issued its annual forecast, anticipating that retail sales will grow between 6 percent and 8 percent to more than $4.86 trillion in 2022. The announcement was made during NRF’s annual State of Retail & the Consumer virtual event where retail industry leaders discussed the strength of the consumer economy and the future of retail. The 2022 figure compares with 14 percent annual growth rate in 2021, the highest growth rate in more than 20 years. This year’s sales forecast is notably above the 10-year, pre-pandemic growth rate of 3.7 percent. NRF anticipates strong job and wage growth and declining unemployment. The organization projects full-year GDP growth will be slower this year, around 3.5 percent, given the surge of inflation and tightening of monetary policy and less fiscal stimulus. Retail sales are expected to remain strong as the economy opens further in the coming months, but there is considerable uncertainty this year that NRF will continue to monitor closely. | More Information


Firearm Retailer/Range Compliance Education
In 2022, NSSF®’s Firearm Retailer/Range Compliance Education will continue to offer FREE in-depth industry compliance training and insights for businesses operating within the firearms industry. NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, is committed to helping your company improve operations, public safety and the overall health of the firearms industry, and education is a key component to our combined success. These monthly live sessions will focus on topics central to our industry including ATF inspection preparedness, Straw Purchase awareness, improving store security, OSHA lead & noise compliance and much more. | More Information 


February another Record Month At The Port Of Los Angeles 
The Port of Los Angeles processed 857,764 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in February, a 7.3 percent increase compared to last year. It was the Port’s busiest February in its 115-year history and represents back-to-back record months to begin 2022. “The combined efforts of dockworkers, terminal operators and our waterfront partners have improved fluidity and productivity,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Since November, we’ve been able to increase the number of containers leaving our docks by 16 percent.” | More Information


February Retail Sales Rose Strongly Year-Over-Year While Monthly Pace Slowed Amid Inflation
Retail sales showed a strong year-over-year gain in February, but the monthly pace slowed compared with January as inflation drove up prices and lingering effects of the COVID-19 omicron variant affected the supply chain, the National Retail Federation said. The U.S. Census Bureau said overall retail sales in February were up 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted from January and up 17.6 percent year-over-year. That built on a monthly increase of 4.9 percent in January over December – more than a percentage point higher than the original estimate of 3.8 percent – and January’s 14 percent increase year-over-year. Despite occasional month-over-month declines, sales have grown year-over-year every month since June 2020, according to Census data. | More Information


Toy Association Alerts Members to New Supply Chain Challenges Emerging in  China
As The Toy Association continues to provide the latest updates and resources addressing the ongoing supply chain crisis, it is alerting members that new Chinese government-imposed lockdowns could cause further delays in supply chains in the coming months if the situation worsens. COVID-19 infection rates hit a two-year high in China last week leading to widespread lockdowns in major port cities − including the toy manufacturing hub of Shenzhen − as part of the country’s zero-COVID policy. While terminals are still operating normally for now, factories, warehouses, and distribution centers remain closed; trucking capacity is limited; and shippers are canceling cargo bookings in Shenzhen with freight being diverted to other ports, according to the latest reports. | More Information


Industry Updates

March 15, 2022

Registration Now Open for the 2022 NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit
Join the industry’s leading executives and marketing professionals for two days of insights, education, and more networking opportunities than ever before at the first-ever NSSF Leadership and Marketing Summit from May 11-12, at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort right outside Austin, Texas. Combining elements from two of NSSF’s most popular events, the Industry Summit and CMO Summit, this is an industry super-conference you don’t want to miss. | More Information


New Toy Fair Everywhere Toy Buying Events Begin in March 
Toy and children’s product manufacturers looking for new ways to get their products on shelves are invited to participate in Toy Fair Everywhere’s new targeted product category events. March 21 kicks off the first month long spotlight on Outdoor Play and Sporting Goods sellers, focusing on products available for purchase by Memorial Day. Subsequent category market events planned through November include: Arts & Crafts (beginning April 18), Games & Puzzles (beginning May 16), Learning & Educational/School Supplies (beginning June 13), Infant and Preschool (beginning July 11), Apparel & Accessories, Costumes, Pretend & Role Play (beginning August 8), Dolls & Plush (beginning September 5), Gifts, Collectibles & Novelty (beginning October 5), and Licensed Brands (beginning October 31). | More Information

Industry Updates

January 21, 2022

NRF Says 2021 Holiday Sales Grew 14.1 Percent to Record $886.7 Billion 
Retail sales during 2021’s November-December holiday season grew 14.1 percent over 2020 to $886.7 billion, easily beating the National Retail Federation’s forecast and setting a new record despite challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions and the ongoing pandemic, NRF said today. The number includes online and other non-store sales, which were up 11.3 percent at $218.9 billion. The numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail. | More Information


Toy Fair New York 2022 Cancelled
The Toy Association, producer of Toy Fair New York, the largest toy, play, and youth entertainment marketplace in the Western Hemisphere, has announced the cancellation of Toy Fair New York, originally set to take place, February 19 to 22, 2022 at the Javits Center in New York City. | More Information

Industry Updates

December 30, 2021

Mastercard: U.S. Holiday Sales Grew 8.5 Percent
According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday retail sales, excluding automotive, increased 8.5 percent year-over-year this holiday season, running from November 1 through December 24. Notably, online sales grew 11.0 percent compared to the same period last year, its preliminary insights show. | More Information

Recall on GSM Outdoors Captain Hang-on Treestands
About 1,030 Captain Hang-on Treestands from GSM Outdoors are being recalled. According to the CPSC, the crimps of the plastic-coated cables can slip during use causing the standing platform to release, posing fall and injury hazards to users. GSM Outdoors has received ten reports of the treestand cables releasing and causing consumers to fall. Two injuries have been reported. | More Information

 
Keen Donates $100,000 to Tornado Victims in Kentucky 
With a distribution center just south of Louisville, Ky., footwear maker KEEN and its employees felt a direct effect from recent tornadoes that ripped through the state. “While the tornados struck about 20 miles away from our facility, the death and destruction hit home,” KEEN Effect Vice President Erik Burbank told Outside Business Journal, noting that the distribution center has a team of more than 130 employees.Burbank said that in the immediate aftermath of the storms, the company’s teams went into response mode, supporting both victims and first responders on the ground. Part of that response was a commitment of $100,000 in cash and products, split as $75,000 to United Way of Kentucky’s Kentucky Tornado Fund and $37,000 in boots to nonprofit Good360 to help get footwear to those who need it most. | More Information

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