Retail Sales Poised For Growth In 2021, But How Much? WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Retail sales are projected to grow at a potentially record rate during 2021, but the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic remains the biggest challenge for the year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). 'There is no doubt the economy is positioned for growth in 2021, but how much growth comes down to a single non-economic force - the coronavirus,' the federation's Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. According to a recent NRF forecast, 2021 retail sales, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, are projected to grow 6.5 to 8.2 percent over 2020 to between $4.33 trillion and $4.4 trillion, including online sales between $1.14 trillion and $1.19 trillion.