Sales
Japan Retail: Higher rates meet an uneven fashion recovery
Against a backdrop of renewed price pressures and a weaker yen, the Japanese fashion market has experienced an uneven recovery. Interest rates have continued to rise, and consumer confidence remains subdued. Within the fashion sector, clothing inflation has outpaced that of footwear. Commercial sales also diverged, with textile sales enjoying a strong rebound, whereas apparel and accessories only returned to marginal growth. Meanwhile, despite falling volumes, footwear import value held up, supported by higher average prices
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
US footwear sales rise slightly in the first half
The US footwear market recorded a slight year-on-year increase in sales of 1% in the first half, according to Circana, as consumers remained selective in their discretionary spending
UK Retail: Footwear market faces broad-based weakness
Although clothing sales remained resilient and online fashion retail continued to grow in the first half of the year, the footwear sector faced a more challenging environment characterised by ongoing price deflation, weak retail sales, and subdued household spending. A sharp contraction in footwear imports also suggests greater caution among retailers and distributors, suggesting that pressure has extended beyond consumer demand to inventory and replenishment decisions
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
US retail body reports higher imports, sales growth and early back-to-school season
US retailers are increasing imports ahead of potential tariff changes, while retail sales continued to grow in June and consumers started their back-to-school shopping earlier than usual
France Retail: Widespread recovery remains elusive
After an uncertain 2025, the French retail market is showing few signs of widespread recovery. While online sales remain its main source of growth, overall retail has stagnated and the footwear market continues to struggle with subdued consumer demand. Meanwhile, the recent acceleration in headline inflation has not resulted in higher clothing and footwear prices, which suggests weak pricing power and ongoing promotional pressure. Against a backdrop of fragile consumer and retail confidence, it is no surprise that businesses have become more cautious in their approach to inventory management
Primark reports sales growth in the third quarter despite retail headwinds
The UK-based fashion retailer has reported a 4% increase in third-quarter revenue, supported by new stores, despite weaker consumer demand across several key markets
US retail sales continue to rise
According to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, retail sales rose for the eighth consecutive month in May, despite high gas prices and ongoing inflation
German fashion market holds steady in 2025 despite economic uncertainty
Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, the fashion and accessories market in Germany remained stable in 2025, generating 58.5 billion euros in sales, a modest increase compared to the previous year
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
LAST CALL: Join the 14th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey
The WorldFootwear.com is asking all experts within the footwear industry to share their views on the current business situation. Join the new edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey. WE WANT TO HEAR YOU!
SECOND CALL: Join the 14th edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey
The WorldFootwear.com is asking all experts within the footwear industry to share their views on the current business situation. Join the new edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey. WE WANT TO HEAR YOU!
Japan Retail: fashion falls out of step with the market
Although inflation is cooling and the macroeconomic situation in Japan is stabilising, consumer confidence remains fragile. Against this backdrop, the fashion industry appears to have fallen out of step, with clothing and footwear prices remaining high while demand continues to weaken. This is evident in the continued decline in apparel and textile sales, contrasting with the resilience of the broader retail sector. At the same time, the weak yen is inflating import costs, forcing footwear companies to pay more without achieving significant increases in sales volume-
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