In the first quarter of 2022, TCF (Textile, Clothing & Footwear) Retail Sales Index returned to pre-pandemic levels, showing that it is no longer sensitive to COVID-19. However, its positive behaviour is somewhat puzzling: consumer pessimism continues to plunge, most likely due to the rising inflation, which hit a record 7% in March, placing pressure on manufacturers’ costs. In addition, it is yet early to quantify the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on European retail markets