NEWS IN BRIEF Forecasts revised, retail sales to climb

Retail sales for 2016 are expected to increase by 3.4 percent over the previous year, according to the National Retail Federation.

The trade association updated its earlier forecast of 3.1 percent after retail sales for the first half of the year grew close to 4 percent on a year- overyear basis, according to its calculations.

The federation said online and other nonstore sales are expected to grow 7 to 10 percent, an increase from earlier projections of 6 to 9 percent.

The federation’s calculations exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

Matthew Shay, the federation’s chief executive officer, said the improved housing market, job growth and higher wages have boosted consumer spending, which is expected to remain solid the rest of the year. But the federation also said factors such as presidential election uncertainty could make consumers more cautious.

“Challenges remain … but consumer confidence remains high, and we believe that retail customers will continue the positive trends we have seen in the first two quarters of the year,” Shay said in a news release.