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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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!
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
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
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!
Germany’s footwear and leather goods sector remained under pressure in 2025, with weak consumer and retail confidence, falling sales, and substantial discounts weighing on the market, despite the expansion of the online channel and a significant increase in footwear imports. Looking ahead, industry representatives appear to anticipate cautious stabilisation rather than a clear rebound. While e-commerce and Germany’s role as a regional hub offer some support, weak domestic demand and persistent uncertainty continue to cloud the outlook
While the broader Spanish economy expanded by 2.8% in 2025 and total retail sales grew steadily, driven largely by double-digit gains in e-commerce, the fashion sector struggled. On average, there was a monthly year-on-year decline of 0.8% in clothing and footwear sales, accompanied by sector-specific deflation despite positive headline inflation. Although consumer confidence remained relatively solid, households increasingly prioritised services and savings over fashion purchases