The National Retail Federation on Monday forecast retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.4 percent in 2013. That’s down slightly from the preliminary 4.2 percent growth seen in 2012. The subdued forecast comes on the heels of a holiday season that was affected by political wrangling over fiscal concerns, “shifting consumers’ spending plans downward,” the federation said. Holiday sales in 2012 grew 3 percent. Shop.o...