Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1% in 2015, up from 3.5% in 2014, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2015 economic forecast. The increase would mark the biggest annual growth since 2011 when retail sales for the year increased 5.1%. Non-store sales in 2015 are expected to grow between 7% and 10%.

Phoenix – The $8.7 billion private equity acquisition of PetSmart Inc. that was announced in December 2014 is one step closer to fruition. Argos Merger is providing a $1.9 billion senior note unsecured offering to finance the purchase.

Port Washington, N.Y. - Consumers spent more than $47 billion on small appliances, non-electric housewares products, and home fashions in 2014. According to The NPD Group, this was a nearly $500 million, or 1%, increase from 2013 home-product sales,

NPD Group data also shows this continued the growth trajectory resumed in 2013, when the industry grew by 4%. Sales of small kitchen appliances, bed, and bath home fashions products buoyed the industry in 2014, while most non-electric housewares continued to struggle.

Denver – Smartphone use continues to rise, with 71% of all consumers and 85% of Millennials owning a smartphone. However, Placeable recently surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers and found that 42% have never purchased anything on their mobile phones, and more than nine out of 10 consumers don’t use mobile payments when they’re available.

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico’s FAS Inc. may be the next big-name retailer to undergo an acquisition. Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is reportedly pursuing a $3 billion acquisition of the specialty women’s apparel retailer.

According to Reuters, Sycamore already has an agreement in principle to acquire Chico’s, contingent upon obtaining financing. However, Sycamore may be having difficulty finding a bank or banks willing to allow as much debt as the company is looking for.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Mobile is the top priority for retailers in 2015, according to the 2015 Shop.org/Forrester Research Inc., State of Retailing Online, with 58% of surveyed retailers placing it at the top of their list, up from 53% last year.

The survey found smartphone sales as a percentage of online sales grew from 8% in 2013 to 12% in 2014, an increase of 50%. Tablets’ share of the pie also grew from 13% of online sales in 2013 to 16% in 2014.

New York -- Shoppers will be opening both their hearts and their wallets this Valentine’s Day. According to a new study from IBISWorld, total holiday spending will increase 3.8% from 2014, to $139.70 from $134.56.

Revenue from candy is expected to rise 3%, and will maintain its position as the category with the most consistent growth over the past five years. This segment’s popularity is due to its easy availability and its varied pricing based on the manufacturer and quality of ingredients.

Phoenix – Same-store sales rose 2.6% at PetSmart Inc. during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Average ticket increased 2%, and same-store transactions increased 0.6%.