Getting your player ready...
The National Retail Federation predicted today that 2007 retail industry sales will increase 4.8 percent from last year. The increase excludes automobile sales, gas station and restaurant sales.
The group said retail sales increased 6.3 percent in 2006. It attributed the gain to robust consumer spending in the first half of the year but said sales weakened in the second half of the year as consumer spending power was challenged by the housing slowdown, high energy costs and lackluster employment growth.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-954-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
