Retail Shippers

Peak season used to feel like a mad dash, but DHL says the holidays don’t bring the same sense of chaos they once did. Thanks to years of planning, better forecasting, and rapid growth in robotics, the company is heading into the busiest stretch of the year with confidence instead of panic.

For 2025, NRF said it is calling for total holiday season spending to come increase between 3.7%-to-4.2% annually, coming in between $1.01 trillion-to-$1.02 trillion. In 2024, holiday sales saw a 4.3% annual gain, to $976.1 billion.

Accenture’s latest holiday survey finds 70% of retail executives are worried they won’t have enough stock to meet demand.

July retail sales, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading day differences but not price changes, came in at $726.3 billion, up 0.5% over June’s revised $722.6 billion. And total retail sales, from May through July, posted a 3.9% annual gain compared to the same period a year ago.

Commerce reported that March retail sales, at $734.9 billion, increased 1.4% over February and 4.6% annually. NRF reported that March’s retail sales which are based on Census data and exclude automobile dealers, gas stations, and restaurants, increased 0.6% seasonally-adjusted, from February to March, and were up 5.07% on an unadjusted basis annually.

Commerce reported that January retail sales, at $723.9 billion, fell 0.9% annually, while posting a 4.2% annual gain, and NRF NRF reported that January’s retail sales, which are based on Census data and excludes automobile dealers, gas stations, and restaurants, decreased 0.9% compared to November on a seasonally-adjusted basis and were up 4% annually on an unadjusted basis, with core sales up 4.1% annually on a three-month moving average.

Commerce reported that total October retail sales, at $718.9 billion, were up 0.4%, from September to October, and increased 2.8% annually. NRF reported that October’s core retail sales, which are based on Census and excludes automobile dealers, gas stations, and restaurants, were flat sequentially on a seasonally-adjusted month-over-month basis and up 5.4% annually on unadjusted basis.

A report recently issued by San Francisco-based Motive, an AI-powered fleet management services provider, offered up insights on various trends impacting the freight transportation market, in advance of the holiday season. The report, entitled the “Motive Holiday Outlook Report,” addresses various challenges and opportunities for businesses on various fronts, including Retail, Freight, Theft and Fraud, and Safety.

Commerce reported that total September retail sales, at $714.4 billion, rose 0.4% compared to August and were up 1.7% annually. NRF reported that its calculation of September retail sales, which is based on Census data and excludes automobile dealers, gas stations, and restaurants, saw retail sales rise 0.4% on a seasonally-adjusted basis month-over-month, topping August’s 0.1% increase, and were up 1.7% on an unadjusted basis annually.

Commerce reported that total August retail sales, at $697.6 billion, were up 0.6% from July to August, and were up 2.5% annually. Total retail sales, from June through August, saw a 2.2% annual increase, it noted. NRF’s calculation of retail sales – which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail – showed August was up 0.1% seasonally adjusted from July and up 3.3% unadjusted year over year. In July, sales were up 0.7% month over month and also up 3.3% year over year.

Earlier this week, the Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation (NRF) said it has acquired the Reverse Logistics Association (RLA), a global trade association for the returns and reverse industry. A purchase price was not disclosed.

Commerce reported that May retail sales—at $686.6 billion—headed up 0.3% over April and were up 1.6% annually. And it added that total retail sales, from March through May, were up 1.7% annually. NRF reported that May retail sales were up 0.4% over April and were up 4.4% on an unadjusted basis annually.

Following their late 2021 announcement, in which Vienna, Va.-based LaserShip, the largest regional e-commerce parcel carrier and last-mile delivery services provider, and Chandler, Ariz.-based regional shipping services provider OnTrac, announced they had entered into a definitive agreement to merge, with LaserShip acquiring OnTrac for $1.3 billion, the companies last week stated they are taking a major next step in the process.

Returns are a proverbial mess for all but the most accomplished retailers. Going forward, part of a company’s reputation and success will be a reflection of the sophistication and responsiveness of their reverse logistics strategy and processes.

Commerce reported that February retail sales—at $561.7 billion—fell 3.0%, from January to February, with a 6.0% annual increase. NRF's data pointed to pointed to a 3.4% seasonally-adjusted decrease, from January, and a 7.1% unadjusted annual gain.