NRF’s second-annual State of Retail and the Consumer virtual event explored the health of the American consumer and key behavior trends during and after the pandemic. Watch the video on demand and hear from industry experts including NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay, NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D., retail CEOs from major brands and market researchers.

Annual Sales Forecast

NRF’s 2022 annual retail sales forecast was also announced. NRF is forecasting that retail sales will grow between 6 percent and 8 percent to more than $4.86 trillion in 2022.

Consumer Research

Review the latest research findings about why politically independent consumers are important to retailers and crucial to upcoming political campaigns.

State of Retail and the Consumer 2021

Take a look at last year’s event here.

2022 Agenda:

I. Welcome to the State of Retail and the Consumer

Matthew Shay, president and CEO, NRF

II. Panel 1 | Independent and in control: The shoppers shaping the 2022 retail and policy landscape

Bill Knapp, partner, SKDK
Sucharita Kodali, vice president and principal analyst for retail, Forrester
Hope King, business reporter, Axios (moderator)

III. Retail sales forecast 2022

Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D., chief economist, NRF

IV. Panel 2 | The endemic economy: What's next for consumers and retail

Ellen Zentner, chief U.S. economist, Morgan Stanley
Joel Prakken, chief U.S. economist and co-head of U.S. economics, IHS Markit
Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D., chief economist, NRF (moderator)

V. Panel 3 | The path forward: How retailers are recasting customer centricity

John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S.
Sharon Leite, CEO, The Vitamin Shoppe
Matthew Shay, president and CEO, NRF (moderator)