US retail group retracts claim that half of $94.5bn inventory loss was from theft

Organized retail crime tends to target everyday goods available from big retail outlets and favor clothing, health and beauty products, study says. Photograph: AndreyPopov/Getty Images

The powerful National Retail Federation (NRF) lobbying group has retracted a claim that “organized retail crime” accounted for “nearly half” of the shopping industry’s $94.5bn losses due to “shrink” in 2021.

The industry group had said the impact of organized retail crime, which it previously claimed had increased by 26.5%, had become increasingly violent. Retail giants like Target, Walmart and Walgreens said it was threatening their businesses.