Economy
Concerns over tariffs weigh on US retail spending
Despite growing year-over-year, US retail spending fell on a monthly basis in February amid concerns over tariffs, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor
Matt Priest (FDRA) on Trump administration’s tariff policy: all of this has created a lot of uncertainty in our market
We bring you an interview with Matt Priest, CEO & President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). The impact of the tariffs imposed on Mexico, Canada and China on US retailers, consumers and the country's economy dominated the conversation
Shein seeks to reassure investors amid US policy changes
The China-based fast fashion giant has reported that it is experiencing strong growth. The reassurance came after US President Donald Trump first announced the end of the minimis rule
Retail Flash: insights from key footwear markets
Explore the main retail trends in France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and Spain from our Retail Flash reports, highlighting volatility in 2024 and mixed consumer and retailer sentiment. In particular, new tariffs on key trading partners could put pressure on US footwear prices, Germany’s online sector continues to expand and Japan faces rising inflation
Canadian shoe manufacturers prepare for US tariffs
The Canadian footwear industry is collaborating with the government to address US tariffs, while businesses accelerate shipments and secure materials to minimise the impact of possible rising costs. We spoke with Denis Falardeau from the Shoe Manufacturers Association of Canada
Japan Retail: no concrete forecasts as the country adjusts to a new economic paradigm
While the online channel continues to stand out in a retail market that has seen a slight increase in spending since September 2024, the fashion sector has struggled the most, most likely due to the warm weather that has affected seasonal shopping. For footwear in particular, after a year of low prices, there’s reason to wonder if the picture of near-zero interest rates could hurt consumer behaviour, as their confidence wanes. The overall stability of imports, despite currency fluctuations, doesn't allow for a concrete forecast
Germany’s shoe industry navigates market changes
German footwear imports dropped, with Vietnam overtaking China as the leading supplier. Higher wages, inflation and political uncertainty add to the challenges shaping the industry’s outlook for 2025
US Retail: fuzzy outlook for the year 2025
While footwear sales are expected to have ended 2024 on a high note, overall retail sales were more subdued than in the previous year, suggesting that consumers were cautiously optimistic throughout the year. However, rising inflation in the final months of the year appears to have made them wary again and import figures suggesting that retailers will need to stock up again may be hard to come by, as the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on goods from Mexico, Canada and China have caused some instability. While the outlook for 2025 is not negative, it is certainly not euphoric
US footwear industry voices concern over new tariffs from Trump administration
President Trump signed executive orders on Saturday to impose broad tariffs on products, including footwear, from the nation’s three largest trading partners, Canada, Mexico and China
UK Retail: the future is not looking very bright
Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) sales have held their own in the final quarter of the year, showing resilience to the drag from overall retail sales. However, the sticky above-target inflation in the UK over the past year is a cause for concern as wages fail to keep pace. In addition, the higher costs for retailers predicted in the last Budget may leave them with little choice but to raise prices and cut jobs. As much as imports have shown some stability, the future for the retail sector is not looking very bright at the moment
Schuh to cut jobs as part of a restructuring effort
Amid challenging economic conditions, the UK-based footwear retailer has started a voluntary redundancy process. The number of employees affected is not yet known
Germany Retail: cautious optimist prevails as the year begins
There are no fireworks in the German retail sector. Overall sales are stable, with e-commerce standing out, inflation is on target, and consumer confidence, which remains negative, has risen slightly. However, retailers have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout 2024, and the only certainty at the start of the year is cautious optimism. Political turmoil, economic difficulties and geopolitical conflicts could just as easily lead to a turbulent year for retail
Spain Retail: will the positive momentum hold up?
Fashion retail sales were generally positive from July to November 2024, but will this trend continue? While we await official data on year-end sales, the negative footwear inflation seen in October and November, combined with a rise in consumer confidence, may have helped to boost spending. And with import figures showing that retailers were stocking up, let’s hope the holidays were the reason, as a recent dip in retail confidence could be just the bad news the sector didn’t need to hear at the start of the year
New Look to accelerate store closures ahead of tax changes
The British fashion retailer is reportedly accelerating its store closure campaign ahead of tax rises in the UK’s next budget. It’s feared more retailers will follow in its footsteps-
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