Retail
March 16, 2022
Consumer confidence remains strong amid a slew of economic stressors. Image credit: NRF
By Nora Howe
Despite the global and cross-sector turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, the retail industry has maintained resilience.
{"ct":"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","iv":"aff54984732e5c16f675e161b7dd04d1","s":"ec2b031e18252eda"}
Share your thoughts. Click here