Retail sales are expected to improve in the second half of 2014, but not enough to make up for a disappointing first six months. The National Retail Federation Wednesday lowered its 2014 retail sales growth forecast to 3.6 percent from 4.1 percent. Severe weather and other factors held sales growth to a less-than-anticipated 2.9 percent in the first half of the year. Sales in the second half, however, are projected to be up 3.9 percent. “Going into 2014, my view was that the U.S.