{
  "id": 19655654,
  "title": "ITF report ties part of retail’s $850B returns to freight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/itf-report-ties-part-of-retails-850b-returns-to-freight",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-12T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/itf-group-report-retail-returns-freight"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Retail Federation predicts consumers will return $849.9 billion worth of merchandise in 2025, accounting for 15.8% of retail sales, a decline from 16.9% in 2024. Retail Reality Check Report by ITF Group suggests many returns stem from how retailers select and oversee their carriers. The report, published on September 30, argues retailers attribute part of the cost to the wrong department. The surge in holiday freight rates, reaching a 52-week high of $2.72 per mile plus fuel on October 9, is cited as a contributing factor. ITF contends that retailers book these costs improperly, and that the blame often lies in freight handling and execution failures. Sam Agyemang, ITF's vice president of business development and sales, contends that returns often get misattributed to logistics issues, when they are actually a result of supply chain failures upstream. He explains that if a product is slightly damaged or appears used due to improper handling, it can become a return. Consumers anticipate free returns, as per a Kenco survey of over 350 North American shoppers, where 47% expect no cost for returns. Many retailers cover reverse logistics, including the process of returning items to inventory. The report suggests retailers should analyze freight's impact on return rates and carrier vetting should be a priority. The Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II Supreme Court ruling has heightened liability concerns for shippers regarding the carriers they select. ITF claims its operating model aims to prevent failures before they become returns, chargebacks, or stockouts, citing a 98% on-time rate and minimal damage.",
  "summary": "NRF projected $849.9 billion in 2025 returns, down from $890 billion in 2024. ITF Group's report says retailers book part of that cost in the wrong department. The post ITF report ties part of retail’s $850B returns to freight appeared first on FreightWaves .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}