this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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The specific metric cited is "retail revenue loss" given in dollar amounts. The "since 2019" is doing some heavy lifting. Q1 2020 was a historic dip in Retail sales. Retail revenue has increased by ~82% since then leaving only 11% of that 93% variability unaccounted for which covers operational inefficiencies, theft, food waste, fuel mismanagement, inventory errors, fraud, etc.
The source is the US census bureau and the National Retail Federation who has a vested interest in blaming all shrinkage as the result of outside forces.
Sure, there's some truth there and as people get more desperate they will certaintly act like it, but this framing is at least 80% bullshit and using that as a starting point means any conclusions drawn from it will be even more bullshit.
Shoplifting isn't the problem, retail stores are big mad they're reaching hard limits on what they can/are allowed to extract from society and are using this talking point to push for more authoritarian power grabbing. Can we stop repeating and reinforcing it?
Can we start fucking nationalizing these demonic companies that exist only to impoverish the common people? Make every organization that is necessary for the functioning of society ACCOUNTABLE to society. DIRECTLY.