Retail Trade Group Reduces Annual Sales Forecast

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's largest retail trade group has pared its annual sales forecast because of slower-than-expected growth during the first half of the year tied to winter storms and lingering economic woes. The Washington-based National Retail Federation said Wednesday that it now expects retail sales to rise 3.6 percent this year to $3.19 trillion, instead of its original prediction of a 4.1 percent increase, released in early February. The figures include sales in stores and online but exclude automotive sales and sales at gas stations and restaurants.Read more on NewsOK.com