NRF pulls shrink report as it ‘reevaluates’ tools for tracking theft

Over the past two years, a number of major retailers said retail theft was a serious problem, and the reason behind lost profits and major strategic decisions such as store closures and the removal of self-checkout lanes.

Now, the narrative is shifting: Along with some retailers saying the problem is mostly fixed, and many consumers saying they are tired of certain anti-theft measures, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said it will not be publishing its annual report on retail shrink this year.

“Over the last several years, as the nature of retail loss has evolved, it has become clear that a broad study about retail shrink is no longer sufficient for capturing the key challenges and needs of the industry,” Danielle Inman, senior director of media relations at NRF, told Retail Brew via email.

She added that the trade group “continuously reevaluates the methods and tools we use for capturing key trends that impact businesses and consumers to ensure that we are providing the most accurate and actionable information possible.”

The announcement comes almost a year after the NRF removed an erroneous fact from its annual shrink report claiming organized retail crime made up “nearly half” of shrink losses in 2021. Mary McGinty, VP of communications for the NRF, said at the time that the fact was based on the “mistaken” assertion of an analyst who was testifying before the Senate.

Inman said the NRF plans to release a new report later this year with a new benchmark.

“NRF’s 2024 research report will examine the issues and trends related to shoplifting, violence, and organized retail crime activity,” she said. “The report will provide a pre-pandemic benchmark to measure retail theft and violence activity against current levels. Additionally, it will outline the numerous initiatives and investments retailers have made to reduce theft and loss, and how these actions have evolved within a changing retail landscape.”