EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
SurveysFeb 12, 2018
Retail Sales to Grow About 4 Percent This Year, NRF Says
Online and non-store sales, meanwhile, should increase between 10 and 12 percent.
The NRF said 2018 retail sales will grow between 3.8 and 4.4 percent over last year, which includes a 10-12 percent increase in online and other non-store sales.
Washington--The National Retail Federation has released its growth predictions for the year ahead, and they’re slightly higher than last year’s figures.
Overall retail industry sales are expected to increase between 3.8 and 4.4 percent. Included in this number are online and all types of non-store sales, which should see a 10 to 12 percent increase over last year.
Last year, the NRF predicted retail sales would increase between 3.2 and 3.8 percent. While subject to revision, the U.S. Census Bureau’s preliminary analysis of 2017 shows that an increase slightly higher at 3.9 percent over 2016 to $3.53 trillion.
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay noted that a strong holiday season is one indicator of a positive year ahead.
“A robust holiday season for retail sales is just one of many barometers that points to a consumer who is clearly feeling positive about their financial health,” he said.
“Despite headlines to the contrary, the retail industry is strong, growing and meeting consumer demand with the products they want at the prices they expect and the shopping experience they want to have, online or in store. With consumer confidence high, unemployment low and wages growing, there is every reason to believe that retail sales will be robust throughout the year.”
When National Jeweler spoke with retailers during the holiday season, several thought that a positive economic outlook, due in part to a booming stock market, was responsible for a healthy holiday season.
Last week, however, the stock market showed great volatility, trading “about 20,000 points back and forth in a roughly 2,000-point trading range,” according to an analysis by CNBC. The week was feared to be the worst for the stock market since the 2008 financial crisis, but narrowly avoided it.
Any ongoing volatility in the year ahead is likely to have a negative impact on growth.
But the NRF is also predicting positive gains for unemployment in 2018, another essential aspect of the U.S. economy.
Jobs are expected to increase by 163,000 a month this year, slightly down from last year but in line with labor market growth, and unemployment is predicted to decrease by 3.9 percent by the end of 2018.
NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said: “The underpinnings of the economy are very good and consumer spending is at the center of our outlook. The push and pull of forces both external and internal to the U.S. economy
will continue to provide challenges, but on balance we expect a good year. And as the retail industry continues to transform, retailers will leverage the new tax plan to invest in their employees, stores and new formats that engage with the ever-evolving and demanding consumer.”
Though online and non-store sales are predicted to increase more than in-store sales, TD Bank’s Retail Experience Index recently affirmed that the in-store buying experience for fine jewelry remains essential.
In a recent survey of 1,021 consumers, the financial institution found that 47 percent of jewelry shoppers spent one to two hours in a jewelry store on average before making a major purchase and tended to visit three to four different stores.
Underscoring the importance of reaching consumers via multiple channels of sale, 47 percent of these shoppers spent three to six hours researching online. Ultimately, 54 percent of customers ended up buying in-store, 34 percent online and 10 percent through a retailer’s app.
Jewelry shoppers also continue to be repeat purchasers. Seventy-eight percent of the shoppers who had spent $500 or more in the last year said they were “very” or “extremely likely” to make another significant purchase in the next six months, indicating that they are likely turning to fine jewelry purchases for occasions, like birthdays and holidays.
TD Bank said that all of this data highlights the importance of the in-store experience, as 60 percent of shoppers said that knowledgeable sales associates are “very important” to deciding where to shop and 69 percent of them sought help from an associate during their last jewelry store purchase.
Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said the sales associate was influential in deciding their ultimate purchase.
Though online and non-store sales are predicted to increase more than in-store sales, TD Bank’s Retail Experience Index recently affirmed that the in-store buying experience for fine jewelry remains essential.
In a recent survey of 1,021 consumers, the financial institution found that 47 percent of jewelry shoppers spent one to two hours in a jewelry store on average before making a major purchase and tended to visit three to four different stores.
Underscoring the importance of reaching consumers via multiple channels of sale, 47 percent of these shoppers spent three to six hours researching online. Ultimately, 54 percent of customers ended up buying in-store, 34 percent online and 10 percent through a retailer’s app.
Jewelry shoppers also continue to be repeat purchasers. Seventy-eight percent of the shoppers who had spent $500 or more in the last year said they were “very” or “extremely likely” to make another significant purchase in the next six months, indicating that they are likely turning to fine jewelry purchases for occasions, like birthdays and holidays.
TD Bank said that all of this data highlights the importance of the in-store experience, as 60 percent of shoppers said that knowledgeable sales associates are “very important” to deciding where to shop and 69 percent of them sought help from an associate during their last jewelry store purchase.
Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said the sales associate was influential in deciding their ultimate purchase.
More on Surveys
The Latest
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
CrimeOct 30, 2025
29-Year-Old Man Charged in Multiple Seattle-Area Smash and Grabs The suspect faces charges in the August robbery of Menashe & Sons Jewelers and is accused of committing smash and grabs at two pawn shops.
