The National Retail Federation (NRF) has announced that 2018 retail sales are now expected to surpass its previous forecast. According to CNBC, elements such as U.S. tax reform and upbeat economic indicators have now steered the NRF to predict a nationwide sales increase of 4.5 percent. The organization previously estimated growth for the year ranging between 3.8 and 4.4 percent.
Retail sales were up 4.8 percent year-over-year (YOY) during the first half of 2018.