Associate Editor Lenore Fedow shares takeaways from the NRF’s annual show and its “State of Retail & the Consumer” event.
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![Graphic with headshots for My Next Question 2024 jewelry trends webinar](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/f211ea3fd5e54acd1c75ae9bd300b391.jpg)
For Future Reference’s Randi Molofsky and designer George “The Jeweler” Khalife discuss the top trends of the year.
![The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 106.7 in February as consumers grappled with economic uncertainty. Shoppers holding bags in winter weather](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/23390ee76945ef7a0ec7f4d5aa5f13f1.jpg)
The Conference Board’s revised January reading suggests consumers did not start off 2024 as confidently as previously thought.
![Sherry Smith is the director of business development at Edge Retail Academy, the leading jewelry business consulting and data aggregation firm. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/b800e106d7a4af0867459d8e375b4b03.jpg)
Sherry Smith dishes on the month’s highs and lows and the two categories consumers were loving ahead of Valentine’s Day.
![My Next Question 2024 predictions webinar graphic](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/147e679bd322c78672a176dca97d8809.png)
Sherry Smith and Paul Zimnisky share their predictions for what promises to be an interesting year.
![Watches of Switzerland’s store in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The retailer lowered its full-year guidance following a “volatile” holiday season and a challenging macroeconomic environment. Watches of Switzerland Mall of America store](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c2a6a50fcf7e2faa6924eb2cf2cf71bc.jpg)
The company pointed to a “volatile” holiday season and a challenging macroeconomic environment.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4df353ab37e9c2cb2d3cea95ce11c7ae.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the final results for the month of December as well as for the full year.
![Lalaounis Golden Deer pendant](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9cc10229b60298fdf70ea692d953fb8a.jpg)
The brand drew inspiration for its sweet “Golden Deer” from the goddess Artemis’ Ceryneian hind.
![Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com. National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4f8968794eb6a11ccc017c90fe2f4046.jpg)
Peter Smith has picked a dozen of his favorite expressions to help readers start the new year off right.
![For her New Year’s Style File, Amanda Gizzi selected 15 pieces of jewelry featuring sparkling gold, silver and diamonds, like these firework-esque earrings from Yvel set with white and brown diamonds (price upon request). Yvel earrings](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/335fdef8d517b1ddf08a01dae24f00ab.jpg)
Ring in the new year with fireworks, sparkle, and sizzle, all gathered by Amanda Gizzi.
![The European Union will ban the import of diamonds “mined, processed, or produced” in Russia beginning Jan. 1, part of a fresh round of sanctions designed to impede Russia’s ability to continue to fund its war in Ukraine. Stock image of multiple European Union flags](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/10adca00c9a8b11f26c6f4fd3755d2d9.jpg)
The EU also provided details on the carat weight threshold, and how it will track rough diamonds.