Prices
Japan retail: unlocking consumer confidence is key for retail
The volume of footwear imports closed 2022 about 10 percentage points below the 2015 baseline, suggesting that the impact of the imported inflation on prices has been clouding the real performance of retail sales in the category. Both the government and some companies have offered inflation allowances or anti-inflation subsidies, but given the saving Japanese mindset, it can be expected that any additional disposable income will not necessarily be used for discretionary shopping, such as clothing and footwear. To boost consumption, it is therefore needed to unlock consumer confidence, which improved only marginally In February, and appears now to be flattening
US Retail: slower growth for retail in the coming months
The available data suggests that footwear sales dipped in the last quarter of 2022. With inflation eating the wage growth and impacting the stability of the labour market, US consumers appear to have deemed footwear purchases as not essential. This situation is somewhat corroborated by the negative performances of several companies in the fashion category, such as Capri, Nordstrom and VF Corp, in the fourth quarter of the year. Their main concern relates to the excess inventory, which led to a highly promotional environment and caused imports to reduce. Accounting for the mixed feelings on the consumers’ side, it is safe to endorse cautious prospects for retail for these first months of 2023
Sustainable, please. But not more expensive!
Sustainability is on the agenda of most footwear brands. Given such importance, in the latest edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey we have asked our experts if consumers will be willing to pay more for sustainability
Germany Retail: one swallow doesn’t make a summer
Despite the upturn in consumer confidence observed in the last quarter of 2022, there is still much concern among retailers. Footwear imports are following an upward trend since October, which could be read as a good sign concerning the health of retail, but German businesses are quite familiar with the sensitivity of their consumers to slight changes in overall economic conditions, and inflation is still expected to impact directly sales. Caution seems definitely to be the watchword at the start of 2023
France Retail: inflation will yet impact retail, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel
Figures by the Banque de France suggest that retailers may have felt some relief in December 2022, but the weight of inflation in these results must not be overlooked, with turnover growing quite faster than the production itself. Moreover, the impact of inflation on footwear might yet be to be felt. French consumers tend to purchase the category during sales, but retailers may not be able to make the big discounts that would make consumers shop in a context of still significant inflation due to the need of preserving margins. However, there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel, as retailers’ and consumers’ confidence indicators show that there is room, at least, for the ceasing of confidence deterioration in 2023.
Sneaker’s share to continue increasing
In the latest edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, we asked our panel of experts how they expected sneakers’ share of international footwear trade to evolve by 2050
2023 could bring a loss of 56 million pairs in Europe's consumption
In the latest edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, we have asked our panel of experts about their perspectives regarding footwear consumption, in their domestic market and globally
US: footwear prices increases to continue decelerating
According to the FDRA, full year footwear prices were up by 4.6%, as compared to 2021. But a break for consumers might be on the way, with data suggesting a decline in the growth pace
Cost of merchandise and raw materials is the main concern of the industry
In the current edition of World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, problems associated with the cost of merchandise and raw materials account for more than 80% of responses relating to the main difficulties felt by the footwear industry
Employment in the sector not expected to grow in 2023
According to the perspectives of the most recent edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted in November, employment in the footwear industry should stabilize or decrease in the next few months
Footwear prices to increase 11%
Our panel of experts expects footwear prices to increase over the course of the next six months. This is one of the main conclusions of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey conducted in November. Read more about it today
Consumption stagnation, price increases, and drop in employment expected for 2023
This is the main outcome of the most recent edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted in November. Today we bring you a summary of some of the main conclusions
Consumption stagnation, price increases, and drop in employment expected for 2023
This is the main outcome of the most recent edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted in November. Today we bring you a summary of some of the main conclusions
Japan Retail: apparel and footwear retail will hardly remain safe amidst such troubling waters
The further easing of COVID-19 border control measures brought tourists back to the stores, but the anticipated consumption-led recovery is being curbed by the high wholesale inflation, as the weak yen is inflating the costs of imports. On the other end, if the yen depreciation is fostering exports, the fear of a global economic slowdown is a bearer of bad news. Both the Apparel & Accessories Retail and the Consumer Confidence indicator are currently trending down, and not to increase prices is no longer an option. As for online commerce, now that the pandemic boosting effect is over, the competitiveness between this channel and physical retail is at stake, however, it is yet soon to claim a winner
US Retail: not all news are bad for retail
The available data suggests that retailers made sure to fill up their stocks this year, most likely causing supply to outstrip demand. But while demand may have slowed down, mainly due to high inflation, spending has not ceased, and retailers are expected to increase their promotions through the end of the year to dispose of marked-down excess inventory. Consumer confidence indicators are somewhat mixed, but it is safe to assume that, at least, it has stopped bleeding. In fact, the contrast with European consumers is clear, showing that US shoppers are less sensitive to the geopolitical risks concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, though slowly, footwear prices increases are starting to decelerate-
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