TrendsFeb 25, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
SurveysFeb 06, 2019
Retail Sales Will Increase 4% This Year, NRF Says
The National Retail Federation predicts that the government shutdown, a volatile stock market and threats of a trade war will not detract from a healthy economy in the year ahead.
Washington—The National Retail Federation has predicted that despite economic and political anxiety in the United States, the economy, and retail sales, will continue to grow largely unaffected in 2019.
In its prediction for the year ahead, released Tuesday, the NRF said that retail sales will increase between 3.8 and 4.4 percent, totaling $3.82 to $3.84 trillion. (The NRF does not include include automobiles, gas stations or restaurants in its retail calculations.)
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay described the underlying state of the economy as “sound,” despite the recently concluded government shutdown, a volatile stock market and threats of a trade war.
“More people are working, they’re making more money, their taxes are lower and their confidence remains high. The biggest priority is to ensure that our economy continues to grow and to avoid self-inflicted wounds. It’s time for artificial problems like trade wars and shutdowns to end, and to focus on prosperity not politics.”
Last year, retail sales increased 4.6 percent over the year prior to $3.68 trillion, topping NRF’s 4.5 percent growth prediction.
Online and other non-store sales were up 10.4 percent to $682.8 billion, in line with the NRF’s prediction of a 10 to 12 percent gain.
The retail trade association is predicting the same online growth percentage this year, which would total approximately $751.1 to $764.8 billion in sales. (Online sales are included in overall 2019 estimates.)
The NRF is basing its preliminary 2018 figures on U.S. Commerce Department numbers released through November coupled with its own estimates for the month of December, as the Commerce Department has yet to release December figures due to the government shutdown.
The association also said that this year the American economy should create about 170,000 new jobs each month, down from 220,000 per month last year, but the current 4 percent unemployment rate should drop to 3.5 percent. Gross domestic product will increase about 2.5 percent from last year, and inflation and interest rates will stay low.
“Consumers are in better shape than any time in the last few years,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Most important for the year ahead will be the ongoing strength in the job market, which will support the consumer income and spending that are both key drivers of the economy. The bottom line is that the economy is in a good place despite the ups and downs of the stock market and other uncertainties. Growth remains solid.”
Kleinhenz noted that new tariffs enacted in 2018 on steel, aluminum and Chinese goods have yet to produce a large economic toll, but that future tariffs could potentially raise the price of consumer goods, especially if the tariffs scheduled for Chinese products that would increase them from 10 to 25 percent happens on March 1.
As for the government shutdown, the effects are hard to quantify, Kleinhenz said. Government employees will receive missed pay retroactively but spent less money in the economy, while government contractors lost out on income during the period.
The NRF said that first-quarter economic spending also will be affected by how quickly the Internal Revenue Service will be able to handle a “potential backlog” of tax returns.
As for the government shutdown, the effects are hard to quantify, Kleinhenz said. Government employees will receive missed pay retroactively but spent less money in the economy, while government contractors lost out on income during the period.
The NRF said that first-quarter economic spending also will be affected by how quickly the Internal Revenue Service will be able to handle a “potential backlog” of tax returns.
More on Surveys
The Latest
SourcingFeb 25, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
EditorsFeb 25, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
PodcastsFeb 25, 2026
Episode 2: Jewelry Trends & Does the Red Carpet Matter?Are arm bands poised to make a comeback? Has red-carpet jewelry become boring? Find out on the second episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
Weekly QuizFeb 19, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesFeb 25, 2026
Private Equity Firms Write Down Value of Breitling, Report SaysThe Swiss watchmaker is battling declining sales amid a rapid retail expansion, according to a Financial Times report.
CollectionsFeb 25, 2026
Rahaminov Diamonds’ New Campaign Honors Its MatriarchThe campaign celebrates Giustina Pavanello Rahaminov, the co-founder’s wife and matriarch of the family-owned brand, for her 88th birthday.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
IndependentsFeb 25, 2026
Borsheims Names 2025 ‘Ike-It’ Award WinnerRachel Bennett, a senior jeweler who has been with Borsheims since 2004, earned the award.
Policies & IssuesFeb 24, 2026
IEEPA Tariffs Terminated, New 10% Tariff Already ImposedAfter the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs, President Trump imposed a 10 percent tax on almost all imports via a different law.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Sherry Smith Now Principal Partner at The Retail SmithsThe industry veteran, who was with The Edge Retail Academy for 14 years, joins her husband at the company he founded in 2022.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Yafa Signed Jewels to Open Store in MiamiThe vintage signed jewelry retailer chose Miami due to growing client demand in the city and the greater Latin American region.
WatchesFeb 24, 2026
Chrono24 Names New VP, U.S. General ManagerFormer Flight Club executive Jin Lee will bring his experience from the sneaker world to the pre-owned watch marketplace.
SourcingFeb 23, 2026
Designer Eddie Sakamoto, a Humble Artist, Dies at 72Sakamoto, who died in mid-January following a sudden illness, is remembered for his humility and his masterful, architectural designs.
Events & AwardsFeb 23, 2026
NYCJAOS Announces Four-Day Spring ShowThe April event will feature a new VIP shopping day requiring a special ticket.
TrendsFeb 23, 2026
Dua Lipa Is Bulgari’s New AmbassadorBulgari chose the British-Albanian singer-songwriter for her powerful and enduring voice in contemporary culture, the jeweler said.
Policies & IssuesFeb 20, 2026
Supreme Court Rules Against Most of President Trump’s TariffsIn a 6-3 ruling, the court said the president exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs under IEEPA.
ColumnistsFeb 20, 2026
Peter Smith: Happiness, Cavemen, and Jewelry SalesSmith encourages salespeople to ask customers questions that elicit the release of oxytocin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical.
MajorsFeb 20, 2026
Jewelers Vigilance Committee Names Julie Yoakum Board ChairJVC also announced the election of five new board members.
CollectionsFeb 20, 2026
Boucheron’s ‘Faisceaux’ Brooch Heads to V&A MuseumThe brooch, our Piece of the Week, shows the chromatic spectrum through a holographic coating on rock crystal.
IndependentsFeb 19, 2026
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Co-Founder ‘Mama Ann’ Bailey Dies at 100Raised in an orphanage, Bailey was 18 when she met her husband, Clyde. They opened their North Carolina jewelry store in 1948.
IndependentsFeb 19, 2026
Material Good Opens Third Location Material Good is celebrating its 10th anniversary as it opens its new store in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston.
Events & AwardsFeb 19, 2026
The Original Miami Beach Antique Show Returns in MarchThe show will be held March 26-30 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
AuctionsFeb 18, 2026
Joanna Carson’s Jewels Head to AuctionThe estate of the model, philanthropist, and ex-wife of Johnny Carson has signed statement jewels up for sale at John Moran Auctioneers.
MajorsFeb 18, 2026
Select Jewelry Inks Agreement to Distribute Lightweight Gold JewelryIt will lead distribution in North America for Graziella Braccialini's new gold pieces, which it said are 50 percent lighter.
Policies & IssuesFeb 18, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry Looks for Executive DirectorThe organization is seeking a new executive director to lead it into its next phase of strategic growth and industry influence.
Events & AwardsFeb 18, 2026
DCA to Host Gemstone Selling Education Session at IJO EventThe nonprofit will present a live, two-hour introductory course on building confidence when selling colored gemstones.
