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
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
The UK-based conglomerate is seeking full control of the Australian retailer Accent Group and a larger stake in Hugo Boss through two separate takeover offers announced this month
The US multi-brand luxury retailer has secured court approval for its restructuring plan. This positions Saks Global to emerge from Chapter 11 with almost 75% less debt and broad creditor support
According to the latest World Footwear Business Conditions Survey conducted in April 2026, the ongoing instability arising from the geopolitical tension between Iran and USA is forcing a significant majority of the industry to re-evaluate its operational strategies
Rising geopolitical tensions are expected to impact the global footwear industry mainly through higher costs rather than an immediate decline in consumer demand, according to the latest World Footwear Business Conditions Survey
The conflict between the United States and Iran is increasingly viewed as a material risk for the global footwear industry, according to the results of the Spring 2026 edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey
Despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Germany’s online footwear market remained stable in the first quarter of 2026, as consumers continued to spend online
According to PwC’s latest Consumer Sentiment Survey, global geoppolitical events have dented consumer confidence, which has fallen to its lowest level since autumn 2023 and at the fastest quarterly rate since June 2022
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
Amid growing concerns over the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, the British Retail Consortium has called on the UK government to ease mounting cost pressures on retailers
The early Easter resulted in stronger-than-expected growth in UK retail sales in March. However, this masked the ongoing weakness of discretionary categories, particularly clothing and footwear
Although overall sales remained stable in 2025, performance within the fashion sector was mixed, with clothing outperforming the far more volatile footwear segment. At the same time, weakening consumer sentiment persisted despite easing monetary policy, signalling growing uncertainty. This is particularly evident in footwear imports, which reversed sharply after a strong start to the year and declined alongside retail sales, even as import prices continued to rise. The combination of falling volumes and higher costs points to a sector increasingly squeezed by soft demand and ongoing supply-side issues
Sales in the UK’s textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) sector recovered in 2025, exceeding total retail figures despite periods of volatility. However, this recovery was driven more by increased transaction volumes than by higher consumer spending, with expenditure on footwear remaining largely unchanged and prices declining amid persistent discounts. At the same time, volatile yet growing online sales and increasingly responsive import patterns suggest that the sector is trying to adapt quickly to uncertain demand
A business coalition that includes the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) is urging the EU to implement deemed importer rules more quickly, as delays would lead to continued unfair competition in e-commerce