US retail returns increased to $761 billion in 2021
Returns rock over 16% & soared over $4.5 trillion Retailers expect more than $761 billion in merchandise sold last year to be returned by consumers, according to a report released by the National Retail Federation [NRF] and Appriss Retail. This accounts for an average of 16.6 percent of total U.S. retail sales, which soared to $4.583 trillion in 2021. “As total retail sales continue to accelerate from sustained consumer demand during the pandemic, it is no surprise that the overall rate of returns has also been impacted,” said Mark Mathews, NRF’s vice president of research development and industry analysis. “While retailers have indicated that they are seeing an increase in items returned to stores and online, the upside is that it also provides them with additional opportunities to connect further with customers and provide a positive experience.” The 2021 total rate of returns (16.6 percent) is up from 10.6 percent during 2020, but online returns are in line with recent