U.S. Holiday Retail Sales May Climb by 3.9%, NRF Says

U.S. retail sales may increase 3.9 percent during the holiday season, as political and economic uncertainties damp consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation said.

Sales may rise to $602.1 billion in November and December, Washington-based NRF said today in a statement. The increase is slightly higher than last year’s 3.5 percent gain and the 10-year average of 3.3 percent, NRF said. Stores may hire 720,000 to 780,000 seasonal employees, compared with 720,500 last year, the group also said.