Big differences in European fashion sales

In the first three months of this year, turnover in fashion was up in the UK, Germany and France compared to the last quarter of 2012. Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium saw trade fall in double digits. Compared to the first quarter of 2012,

sales in almost all countries were down with Spain leading the pack with a 13,9 percent decrease. Only the United Kingdom saw sales pick up with a 0,3 percent increase. According to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, general retail trade decreased by 0.2 percent in the Euro area, but rose by 0.1 percent in the European Union with its current 27 member states (EU-27).

United

Kingdom Q1 +0.3 percent
The textile, clothing and footwear stores sector provided an upwards contribution to the quantity bought in all retailing with an increase of 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the first quarter of 2012. The amount spent increased year-on-year by 0.3 percent and the prices of goods remained unchanged in the year to March 2013.

Belgium Q1 -9.7 percent
The amount spent (sales values) in the sector in Belgium decreased by 9.7 percent between January to March 2012 and the same period in 2013.

France Q1 -4.8 percent
In the first quarter of 2013, total consumption of clothing and textiles declined by 4.8 percent in value and comparable surface relative to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Germany Q1 -5.0 percent
According to provisional results of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), fashion retail turnover in Germany decreased by 3.8 percent in nominal terms and 5 percent in real terms compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Looking at the previous year’s turnover in general, retail trade in the first three months of 2013 in nominal terms was 0.4 percent larger and in real terms 1.0 percent smaller than that of the corresponding period of the previous year.

Netherlands Q1 -10 percent
According to the Dutch fashion monitor managed by trade organization Inretail and Gfk, sales in the Netherlands dropped to a new low in the first quarter of 2013.
Fashion store sales decreased by 10 percent compared to the first quarter in 2012. Menswear went down by 7,9 percent and sales in the ladies and childrenswear segments dropped by 12,3 percent and 11,8 percent, respectively. Shoe stores saw sales go down by 16 percent.

Spain Q1 -13.9 percent
According to Eurostat, the retail sales of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in specialised stores dropped by 13.9 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter in 2012.
The General Retail Trade Index annual rate at constant prices stands at -10.1 percent in the original series and at -8.3 percent adjusted for seasonal effects.

The data used in this publication is collected from renowned local statistical institutes. Although selection has been done with the greatest care, readers are reminded that the figures contained within this release are estimates and that the methods of calculation may differ from one country to another. Sources: Inretail, Gfk, CBS, IFM, Destatis, Ons, Ine, Eurostat.