Economy
German consumer sentiment shows signs of improvement
German consumer sentiment rose more than expected in November despite high prices and a difficult labour market, according to GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM)
Japan Retail: the picture is unclear for both consumers and retailers
Contrary to what was suggested in our previous flash, fashion retail sales have fallen sharply since April, by a total of 22.8%, while total retail sales have remained somewhat stable. In this context, the low footwear inflation in Japan, now close to 0%, tends to indicate a lack of demand. Perhaps the growth in consumer spending and tourism will help to turn the situation around, especially given the falling yen in September. However, for now, the future remains unclear for all
US holiday retail sales expected to rise up to 3.3% in 2024
Consulting firm Deloitte forecasts that holiday retail sales will increase between 2.3% and 3.3% in 2024, driven by a projected 7% to 9% growth in e-commerce as consumers continue to shift to online
Spain Retail: the future looks brighter for retail
Fashion sales finally picked up in July and August and are back in the green, after a worrying March. The truth is that the prospect of better economic growth and recent falls in inflation and unemployment have reassured Spanish consumers and given them a sense that the future may be brighter. All in all, this has led retailers to stock up in the hope that sales will continue to rise in the coming months. If these factors remain in place, the footwear sector is likely to end the year on a positive note
US retail sales continue to increase despite slower employment growth
According to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, August retail data showed steady growth, with total sales up by 2.11% year-on-year, led by solid performances in the online, clothing, and health sectors, even as job growth slowed
France Retail: still a blurred picture for footwear retail
French footwear retailers seem to be at a crossroads trying to figure out what will happen next. Prices are flat, sales are slow, consumer confidence is in general volatile, and stocks are building up (leading to a fall in imports). There was, however, a small improvement in consumer confidence in August, in line with the downward trend in inflation, suggesting that a much-needed relief may be reaching French households. Still, this may not be enough to boost retail sales this year as political uncertainty continues to cloud the horizon
Japan Retail: slow but steady future for retail
After unexpectedly slipping into recession at the end of 2023, the Japanese economy appears to be back on track to grow 3.2% in 2024 (FMI forecast). Against this backdrop, fashion retail sales are outperforming the overall retail performance and, interestingly, footwear inflation is now below the 2% target for any economy. However, the picture is not so clear-cut. The weak yen could dampen any growth in imports and the country is still adjusting to a major change in monetary policy. Nevertheless, as predicted in our last Flash, it’s safe to say that a modest recovery has taken place in the sector
US retailers try to get ahead of shipping disruptions
Despite the risk of being stuck with excess inventory, US retailers are accelerating overseas orders to get ahead of worsening shipping disruptions amid rising freight rates and growing geopolitical concerns
Richard Shetliffe from BFA: we will always look at ways that we can support and offer guidance
We spoke to Richard Shetliffe, a veteran of the footwear and accessories industry who was appointed CEO of the British Footwear Association a few months ago, to discuss the role of the association in light of the various challenges facing the UK industry
Disruptions in the Red Sea continued into the third quarter
Global ocean carrier AP Moller-Maersk has warned that the coming months will be difficult for both carriers and businesses as the conflicts in the Red Sea continue to affect the normal functioning of supply chains
US Retail: there’s still a great deal of uncertainty
There are still no solid signs of a recovery in the footwear retail sector. Despite mirroring last year’s trend, sales are consistently lower than in 2023, and footwear imports continue their downward trajectory. This may suggest that prices have not yet reached a level where consumers will bite. The truth is that the US economy has made great progress and inflation has eased considerably, but not enough to reassure consumers, who are still uncertain about what will happen next. And when that happens, discretionary items always pay the price
Low expectations for a recovery in the Italian luxury sector
There are no signs that the downturn in the luxury sector is over, says the Confindustria Moda. Only 1 in 10 entrepreneurs expects an improvement in the second quarter of the year
Germany Retail: positive signs on the horizon, but it’s not yet time to pop the champagne
Good news keep coming, but no one is out of the woods yet. Footwear retail sales outperformed overall retail sales in January and February, although they remain lower than the same period last year. Consumer sentiment remains negative but is improving, driven by lower inflation rates and wage growth, and retailer sentiment, although more negative, is following the trend. With recent news of a better economic outlook for the year and a rise in the value of imports at the start of the year, there is a chance that consumers will pull retailers up. Let’s see how the coming months unfold
Golden Goose postpones IPO
Permira-backed luxury sneaker company Golden Goose has postponed its IPO due to a climate of political uncertainty in Europe. The shares were due to start trading next Friday-
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