NRF produces consumer research throughout the course of the year, dissecting everything from what consumers are buying to how they are shopping for those items and more.

NRF's annual lists of the nation’s — and the world’s — largest and fastest-growing retailers. The largest and fastest-growing retailers in the U.S. and across the globe are listed in NRF's annual Top 100 Retailers, Hot 100 Retailers and Top 50 Global Retailers lists.

The retail industry is undergoing an enormous transformation, leaving many asking, “What’s the future of retail?”. Retail has been undergoing an enormous transformation during and post-pandemic, as it accelerated digital offerings and adapted quickly to new customer needs.

Americans are engaging with the retail industry on a nearly daily basis. The retail industry powers the economy as the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 55 million working Americans.

Learn more about the current state of retail and the role it plays in supporting the U.S. economy, including retail sales, monthly economic reports and more data from the National Retail Federation.

Industry partners can submit industry white papers, research and reports for retail members to access and utilize. NRF welcomes members to submit research and white papers for consideration.

• Climate-Proofing Retail

• Retail Reinvention: A Framework for Future Growth

• The Carbon Footprint of Retail Products

• The Retail Employee Value Proposition: What Really Matters in 2022

• National Retail Security and Organized Retail Crime Survey 

• Customer Returns in the Retail Industry

• State of Retail Payments

• Boston Consulting Group Technology Benchmark

• Retailers Reaching for Net Zero

• IBM Automation Study

• Cyber Risk Resources

• Future of Retail Workforce Study

• Future of Retail Workforce Study – Holiday 2023

• 2023 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry