Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Survey: Stores help drive healthy back-to-school spending
Consumers are not skimping on back-to-school spending this year, and brick-and-mortar retailers have extra reason to celebrate. The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has released its annual back-to-school consumer survey results, finding an overall uptick in spending. The average back-to-school (BTS) shopper is expected to spend $657, with 78% expecting to spend more than the prior year.
Forecast for back-to-school spending is sluggish
After two years of benefitting from gasoline price tailwinds, still-stressed consumers will generate only a sluggish 3.3% year-over-year increase in this year’s back-to-school sales, according to Customer Growth Partners’ 14th Annual BTS Forecast. Total BTS sales for the season will reach $540 billion — a new record, but the lackluster 3.3% growth represents a marked slowdown from the 4%-plus BTS growth seen in both 2014 and 2015, when sales were boosted by declining gasoline prices.

Good times for fast-casual chains

Bolstered by the rapid expansion of build-your-own pizza concepts, fast-casual chains had another strong year in 2015. That’s according to Technomic Inc.’s annual Top 250 Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant report, which reported that cumulative sales in the fast-casual dining segment rose 11.6% in 205, compared to 13.5% in 2014.
TWO TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

Joel Alden, partner in the retail practice at A.T. Kearney, said that investments in technology and physical stores mainly fall into two distinct categories: maintenance investments or growth investments.

“For maintenance investments — replacing a degrading building infrastructure, for example — the cost of not making the investment is critically important,” Alden said.
NRF: Consumers want swipe fee status quo

The people have spoken – and they like limits on debit card swipe fees the way they are.
GETTING THE REBATE

There is substantial funding available to reduce the cost of upgrading existing lighting systems, but it takes some preparation. Here are some tips:
Survey: Back-to-school means back to spending

Parents are increasing their back-to-school budgets, although overall spending is stagnant compared to recent years. According to a new survey of 1,830 U.S. parents of elementary through college students by Mintel, 52% of respondents plan to spend more on back-to-school (BTS) shopping than in 2015. Only 4% plan to spend less, with 44% planning to spend the same. However, overall planned BTS spending dropped to $68 billion in 2015 after ranging from $73 - $76 billion annually from 2010-2014.
NRF supports overturning of swipe fee settlement

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly welcoming a ruling striking down the 2012 settlement of a class action lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard’s credit card swipe fees. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York overturns a December 2013 approval of the settlement by U.S. District Court Judge John Gleeson.
NRF backs reduction in corporate tax rate

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly supporting a tax reform proposal released today by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
NRF: Swipe fees protect consumers

Retail group argues for debit card swipe fee regulations. The National Retail Federation said Congress should reject a proposal from the head of the House Financial Services Committee to repeal a cap on debit card swipe fees. According to the NRF, the fees have saved consumers billions of dollars over the past five years.

Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Survey: Stores help drive healthy back-to-school spending

Forecast for back-to-school spending is sluggish

Good times for fast-casual chains

TWO TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

NRF: Consumers want swipe fee status quo

GETTING THE REBATE

Survey: Back-to-school means back to spending

NRF supports overturning of swipe fee settlement

NRF backs reduction in corporate tax rate

NRF: Swipe fees protect consumers