The National Retail Federation of the US   announced yesterday that it would be making a “multimillion-dollar investment” to fund a new department within the organisation “focusing on industry research”.

“The Retail Research and Analysis Center will bring together all existing research within NRF and expand upon the wide range of issue areas and trends already studied,” NRF said. “The Center will focus on four main areas: the economy, legislative and regulatory policy, the retail industry and consumers.”

NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay commented: “NRF is at the forefront of research and analysis that impact our industry, the consumers it serves and the economy in which it operates.  By significantly investing in the future expansion and scope of NRF research, our members will have additional tools and insight as they operate in a very dynamic marketplace. And, our advocates will have the facts they need to advance retail’s policy agenda.”

Ellen Davis, executive director of the NRF Foundation, will also serve as NRF’s senior vice president of research and strategic initiatives, Shay announced.

“It is extremely exciting to be a part of building upon one of the core services we provide to our members, the media, analysts and decision makers,” Davis said. “Studies, surveys, white papers and critical analysis by industry leaders help us frame policy debates, identify trends, and change perceptions about retail’s evolution. As the nation’s largest private-sector employer and an industry that contributes $2.6 trillion dollars annually to the U.S. GDP, the retail industry impacts all sectors of our economy and is uniquely positioned to provide business insights and analysis to shape key debates in Washington.”

NRF said that the organisation has started “an extensive search” for a vice president of research development and industry analysis, reporting to Davis.