Retail Group Retracts False Claim on Losses from Theft, Exposing Difficulty in Tracking Retail Crime

The National Retail Federation has retracted its claim that nearly half of the $94 billion in retail losses in 2021 were due to organized retail crime, stating that the claim was based on faulty data and an unconfirmed statement. While retail theft remains a concern, experts highlight that the reasons behind store closings are complex and include factors such as post-pandemic commuting patterns and the rise of online shopping. The NRF acknowledges the challenges in gathering accurate data on incidents and emphasizes the need for collaboration between the retail industry and law enforcement to address the issue.