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Retail Flash: Footwear trails broader retail across key markets
The retail landscape in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, the UK, the US and Japan remains uneven, with the footwear sector often trailing behind broader retail and fashion categories. Fragile consumer confidence, varying pricing power and cautious inventory management continue to weigh on the sector, while stronger digital sales have yet to translate into a broader footwear recovery
German fashion consumers prioritise fit and value as spending slows
German consumers are becoming more restrained in their fashion spending, while fit, comfort and conveniente, and value for money continue to dominate purchasing decisions, according to the GermanFashion Consumer Panel 2026
US Retail: Footwear remains under pressure as consumers turn to value
The US footwear market started 2026 under pressure. Footwear inflation accelerated beyond headline inflation, while sales lagged behind those in the wider retail and fashion sectors. Additionally, a rebound in imports in late spring contrasted with weakening consumer confidence. Together, these trends point to a market where rising prices, uneven demand and recovering supply are creating a more challenging environment, with consumers becoming increasingly selective and value-conscious
Zalando maintains growth, narrows full-year outlook
The Germany-based online retailer continued to grow in the second quarter of 2026, supported by its multi-app strategy, B2B expansion and the integration of About You, while tempering its full-year expectations
Germany Retail: Footwear remains under pressure
The German footwear market is under increasing pressure due to declining sales, rising prices and weakening consumer confidence. While total retail and online sales have remained relatively resilient, footwear and leather goods have consistently underperformed. Meanwhile, retailers have become more cautious, as reflected in declining imports and weak retail confidence, which points to a challenging environment for the sector
Amazon reports 20% net sales growth in the second quarter
The Seattle-based online giant reported a 20% year-on-year increase in net sales in the second quarter, driven by strong growth in its AWS segment. Significant investment in AI infrastructure continues
Spain Retail: Fashion recovers amid mixed market signs
Spanish retail has remained resilient over the past year, supported by sustained growth in online sales. Meanwhile, the fashion sector recovered in early 2026 following a weaker performance in 2025. However, rising prices, weakening consumer and retail confidence, and lower footwear imports suggest that the improvement in turnover this year reflects a mixed market environment rather than an overall strengthening in demand
Coalition urges EU to strengthen marketplace accountability
The CEC and 87 other organisations are urging the European Commission to use the upcoming European Product Act to address the lack of accountability surrounding the billions of low-value parcels entering the EU each year
Netherlands Retail: Confidence gap widens, footwear lags
Recent developments in the Dutch retail market reveal an increasing gap. Although consumer confidence has deteriorated sharply, retailers remain positive and footwear imports have shown resilience. Yet, footwear continues to lag behind the broader retail sector, facing weaker demand, persistent price pressure, and inconsistent sales. Meanwhile, online retail remains structurally strong, reflecting the ongoing shift in consumer purchasing behaviour
EU fines Temu for breaching EU rules on sale of illegal products
The European Commission has fined the Chinese online retailer Temu 200 million euros under the Digital Services Act (DSA) for not doing enough to stop the sale of illegal products
Retail Flash: end-2025 insights from key footwear markets
Explore the main retail dynamics across France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and Spain, including end-2025 insights and early-2026 signals, highlighting online outperformance in France and Spain, persistent footwear weakness in Germany, and import-cost pressure in Japan and the US
AI expansion and About You acquisition drive Zalando’s first-quarter growth
The online fashion retailer posted solid first-quarter results, driven by AI efficiencies, growth in the number of active customers, and the early integration of synergies from the acquisition of About You
Amazon reports strong first-quarter results
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant reported a 17% increase in net sales in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year. The AWS segment delivered a noteworthy performance-
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