UC Economics Center

The Economics Center, founded in 1977, is a leading provider of economic resources for educators, students, businesses, and public agencies. The Center provides the knowledge building blocks that help clients make better finance, policy, and economic development decisions. Its dynamic approach and critical data analysis empower business and civic leaders to respond to changing economic conditions, strengthen local economies and improve the quality of life for their communities.

National Retail Federation

As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF’s global membership includes retailers of all sizes, formats and channels of distribution as well as chain restaurants and industry partners from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. In the U.S., NRF represents an industry that includes more than 3.6 million establishments, and which directly and indirectly accounts for 42 million jobs –one in four U.S. jobs. The total U.S. GDP impact of retail is $2.5 trillion annually, and retail is a daily barometer of the health of the nation’s economy.

Under NRF’s retail umbrella sit four association groups including the Association for Retail Technology Standards, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, and Shop.org. Additional information on these groups can be found at NRF Divisions.

Retail Industry Leaders Association

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is best defined by the companies we represent America’s leading retailers. RILA proudly counts nine of the top 10 U.S. retailers as members. RILA members also hold the top spot among key retail segments including apparel, consumer electronics, department stores, home improvement, large format and small format, demonstrating that RILA is truly the association for ‘retail leaders.’ In fact, no trade association represents more top retailers than RILA.

The highly sophisticated companies among RILA’s members are experts at reading and responding to consumer demands. The retail executives that lead these companies join RILA to collaborate with their peers to seek excellence within their own enterprise and pursue positive changes for the industry at large.

As the retail industry’s advocate in Washington DC, RILA is a trusted source dedicated to telling the retail industry’s story and informing lawmakers of the impact and consequences of the decisions they make. On the retail operations side, RILA provides a forum where members can conduct discussions aimed at understanding common operational practices, areas of concern, and pragmatic solutions to problems. Our educational events are second to none. RILA is structured to focus on five core areas where retailers can collaborate to make a difference.

• Supply Chain
• Asset Protection
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Enterprise Issues (Sustainability, Privacy)