NRF Forecasts 4% Increase in Retail Sales for 2011

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4 percent from 2010, according to the National Retail Federation 2011 economic forecast. The retail trade association said the “cautiously optimistic outlook” comes on the heels of seven consecutive months of retail sales growth and better than expected holiday sales.Consumer spending ended on a strong