The report, funded by an independent grant from Checkpoint Systems, suggests the losses incurred by the retail industry from mid-November through Christmas could add an extra $98 to each family’s shopping bill.
The report found that American retailers could lose $3.8 billion through shoplifting, $4.7 billion through employee theft, and $400 million through vendor and distribution losses.
In total, the losses could represent a four percent increase over the same period last year. The primary contributors to retail crime are employee theft, 53 percent, and shoplifting, 42 percent.
The "Shoplifting for Christmas 2012" report also revealed the product categories most likely to be stolen over the Christmas period, which include 1) alcohol, 2) women’s clothing and fashion accessories, 3) toys, 4) perfume and health & beauty gift packs, 5) electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, toiletries for men, 6) DVD gift sets and game consoles, 7) food and Christmas decorations, 8) electrical goods including hardware/do-it-yourself, 9) watches and jewelry, and 10) chocolates and confectionery.
Source: Centre for Retail Research