@Risk

After several down months of retailers reducing their imports compared to last year, we’re likely to see a (slight) turnaround in December.

The monthly Global Port Tracker report, released last week by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, forecasts that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports should increase 0.3 percent this month compared to December 2010.

Global Port Tracker covers the US ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast, New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. It records retail container traffic in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU), where one TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.

Here is the volume these ports have handled over the past few months: (more…)

Losses from shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud, organized retail crime and administrative errors (also known as “shrink”) increased last year, rising to their highest levels since Checkpoint Systems, Inc. began tracking global retail theft in 2007.

Overall, Checkpoint Systems found that shrink in 2011 cost the retail industry 1.45 percent of sales –which translates into a whopping $119 billion.

Here are a few more highlights from this year’s Global Retail Theft Barometer : (more…)

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 is set to go into effect January 1, 2012.

Are you ready?

The new law, which will impose disclosure obligations on all retailers and manufacturers that do business in California and have annual gross receipts that exceed $100,000,000, is designed to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from its direct supply chain for tangible goods offered for sale.

As explained in detail here, the legislation will require these retailers and manufacturers to disclose how they: (more…)

For anyone raising children, the last few weeks of summer are typically peppered with shopping trips for back-to-school supplies.  It’s a key season for retailers, typically second only to holiday shopping in December.

This year is proving to be no exception. Despite concerns about the volatile economy, a recent study by Deloitte found that nearly nine out of 10 consumers plan to maintain or increase their back-to-school spending. More specifically:

• 86 percent of the households surveyed expect to spend the same or more on back-to-school items this year.
• Even so, consumers said they will be vigilant about the cost of the items they plan to purchase. Three out of 10 (29 percent) consumers believe prices on new back-to-school merchandise are higher than a year ago, and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) said low prices are the most important retailer attribute for back-to-school shopping.
• More than half (55 percent) of those polled reported that they will buy only what the family needs, and more than one-quarter (26 percent) will reuse last year’s items due to concerns about the economy or their finances. Nearly three out of 10 (28 percent) will consolidate trips to save on gas.

Which inflation-related concerns could derail consumer spending this season? Seven out of 10 respondents cited higher food prices (72 percent) and higher energy prices (70 percent), followed by roughly half (51 percent) who pointed to the lack of improvement in the job market.

“Retailers need to be prepared for a consumer who is sensitive to prices, especially with the pinch households are feeling from higher gas and energy costs this summer,” said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and Deloitte’s retail & distribution sector leader. “Retailers should monitor customers’ reactions closely to recognize where they are flexible, and where promotions are necessary to drive traffic and generate purchases of higher margin products in the store.”

Deloitte also probed evolving consumer buying behaviors. The survey found that shoppers increasingly rely on mobile devices and social networks for brand information, discounts, etc. For example: (more…)

Retail industry sales are up again, marking the 12^th consecutive month of increases.

According to data from the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) in June increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted from May and 5.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

June retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) also rose. Those figures, released last week by the US commerce Department, increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 8.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

The National Retail Federation says last month’s warm weather, lower gas prices and strong Father’s Day promotions put consumers in a spending mood. In particular: (more…)