Retailers in the US expect the rate of product returns to increase in 2022. As a report by the National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail, consumers are expected to return goods worth more than $761 billion sold last year to be returned by consumers.This accounts for an average of 16.6 percent of total U.S. retail sales, which soared to $4.583 trillion in 2021.

According to Mark Mathews, Vice President, National Retail Federation, the rate of returns in the US increased to 16.6 per cent in 2021 from 10.6 percent during 2020, but online returns are in line with recent years at an average of 20.8 percent. According to NRF, online sales accounted for $1.050 trillion of total US retail sales last year. Approximately $218 billion of online purchases were returned, with $23.2 billion deemed fraudulent.

The survey reveals, categories with the highest return rates were: auto parts (19.4 percent), apparel (12.2 percent) and home improvement and housewares (tied at 11.5 percent). Steve Prebble, CEO, Appriss Retail says, the retail industry is dealing with an influx of returned items. Retailers need to view this as an opportunity to truly engage with your consumers.