by Doug Desjardins
If you're looking for more detailed information on sales forecast and results for the 2009 holiday season, here's a list of Web sites for trade associations, research firms and government agencies that track retail sales.
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
National Retail Federation - National trade association that tracks retail trends.
Consumer Electronics Association - Trade Association that represents the interests of consumer electronics retailers and manufacturers.
International Council of Shopping Centers - Trade organization that supports the shopping center industry and tracks industry data on retail occupancy rates.
RESEARCH GROUPS
University of Michigan Survey of Consumers - Monthly survey that gauges consumer sentiments about spending and the economy.
MasterCard Advisors - Division of MasterCard that tracks consumer spending and retail trends.
Coremetrics - Research firm that tracks online retail sales.
Global Hunter Securities - Global research firm that tracks trends in consumer sales, energy and technology.
ForeSee Results - Company that specializes in online consumer satisfaction surveys.
Consumer Reports - Independent organization that provides consumer product reviews.
comScore - Research firm that tracks e-commerce sales and trends.
The NPD Group - Market research firm that studies consumer trends, sales and marketing issues.
Retail Forward - A research firm specializing in retail statistics, retail consulting and brand management.
GOVERNMENT RESEARCH
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Labor fact-finding agency for the federal government that tracks unemployment rates and other key economic indicators.
U.S. Commerce Department - Primary source of statistics on macro trends in the U.S. economy.
