In fiscal year 2022, the median of reported inventory shrinkage among retailers in the United States stood at 1.4 percent. This was a slight increase compared to the previous year, and in line with the rates measured in 2020 and 2019. That year, the average inventory shrinkage rate among U.S. retailers came to 1.6 percent.
Inventory shrinkage, which is measured as retail sales loss, is typically caused by internal and external theft, process mistakes, as well as systemic errors.
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Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022
Characteristic
Average inventory shrinkage rate
2022
1.4%
2021
1.2%
2020
1.3%
2019
1.3%
2018
1%
2017
1.1%
2016
1.2%
1%1.1%1.2%1.3%1.4%1.5%
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National Retail Federation. (September 26, 2023). Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 19, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/
National Retail Federation. "Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022." Chart. September 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/
National Retail Federation. (2023). Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/
National Retail Federation. "Median Inventory Shrinkage Rate among Retailers in The United States in The Fiscal Years of 2016 to 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/
National Retail Federation, Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/ (last visited June 19, 2025)
Median inventory shrinkage rate among retailers in the United States in the fiscal years of 2016 to 2022 [Graph], National Retail Federation, September 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456467/median-retailers-inventory-shrinkage-rate-us/
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