Interviews
Clothing & footwear sales remains slow
11 Mar '08
4 min read
Basic essentials and value ranges held up as consumers cut back on discretionary spending. However, high-earners benefited top-end designer clothes and Valentine's and Mothering Sunday helped accessories, lingerie and jewellery.
Sales dropped back below their year-earlier level after the clearance sales ended, with men's falling more than women's. The squeeze on discretionary spending meant value lines and smart workwear were preferred to fashion casuals.
However, premium designer shoes continued to outperform. Children's also slowed markedly after several good months, showing only a small gain despite some good half-term sales.
Sales remained slow for most, with clothing, footwear and larger homewares particularly challenging. Fashion accessories, jewellery and beauty products enjoyed a boost from Valentine's and Mothering Sunday purchases.
It was another quiet month with sales dampened by the housing market slowdown and consumers' reluctance to buy big-ticket items.
New ranges helped indoor decor and trade building held up, helped by the sunny mild spells, which also drove gardencare, bedding plants and even lawnmowers.
Home accessories edged up just above their year-earlier level but house textiles fell further to their weakest since August.
The squeeze on household incomes meant gains were often limited to new, modern ranges and basic essentials rather than larger discretionary purchases. Hence kitchenware generally did better than decorative items for living and bedroom.
Sales fell back sharply from January's clearance gains to show their largest decline since July 2005. Fitted kitchens and bathrooms were slow.
Bedroom and sofas did better for some, albeit driven by heavy discounts, while dining and the more discretionary products lagged. Valentine's and Mothering Sunday gave a strong boost to fragrances and cosmetics, amid widespread promotions and offers.
Toiletries were mixed but suncare and bronzing remained popular. Vitamins and medicines were generally flat, with strong competition for core essentials persisting between specialists and supermarkets.
Sales showed modest growth but were mixed across stores and sectors. Spring/summer fashions began well for some but homewares remained flat, dampened by consumer caution and housing market worries. However, attractive credit deals did tempt some buyers.
Sales dropped back below their year-earlier level after the clearance sales ended, with men's falling more than women's. The squeeze on discretionary spending meant value lines and smart workwear were preferred to fashion casuals.
However, premium designer shoes continued to outperform. Children's also slowed markedly after several good months, showing only a small gain despite some good half-term sales.
Sales remained slow for most, with clothing, footwear and larger homewares particularly challenging. Fashion accessories, jewellery and beauty products enjoyed a boost from Valentine's and Mothering Sunday purchases.
It was another quiet month with sales dampened by the housing market slowdown and consumers' reluctance to buy big-ticket items.
New ranges helped indoor decor and trade building held up, helped by the sunny mild spells, which also drove gardencare, bedding plants and even lawnmowers.
Home accessories edged up just above their year-earlier level but house textiles fell further to their weakest since August.
The squeeze on household incomes meant gains were often limited to new, modern ranges and basic essentials rather than larger discretionary purchases. Hence kitchenware generally did better than decorative items for living and bedroom.
Sales fell back sharply from January's clearance gains to show their largest decline since July 2005. Fitted kitchens and bathrooms were slow.
Bedroom and sofas did better for some, albeit driven by heavy discounts, while dining and the more discretionary products lagged. Valentine's and Mothering Sunday gave a strong boost to fragrances and cosmetics, amid widespread promotions and offers.
Toiletries were mixed but suncare and bronzing remained popular. Vitamins and medicines were generally flat, with strong competition for core essentials persisting between specialists and supermarkets.
Sales showed modest growth but were mixed across stores and sectors. Spring/summer fashions began well for some but homewares remained flat, dampened by consumer caution and housing market worries. However, attractive credit deals did tempt some buyers.
British Retail Consortium
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