The US retail industry lost US$112.1 billion from crime and theft in 2022, about 1.6% of total revenue, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
This was up from 1.4% that was lost from retail sales due to crime, violence and theft the year before, it said in its latest annual national retail security survey.
The NRF surveyed 177 retail brands accounting for US$1.6 trillion of annual retail sales in 2022, which were present in more than 97,000 retail locations across the United States and covered 28 sectors.
More than three-quarters of these retailers, or 78.1%, reported that organised retail crime was a priority compared to last year. That compared with 70.7% of retailers surveyed last year who said that organised crime was more of a priority than it was five years earlier.
The survey indicated growing concern among retailers over violent thefts, and mass violence, compared with less overall concern over internal theft by employees.
“A strong majority of retailers agreed that shoplifters overall are more aggressive and violent than a year ago,” the NRF said in its report.