Industry Statistics

Statistics News:

02.17.09
According to the US Census Bureau's February 12 release of January Advance Monthly Sales, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, which includes shoe stores, followed a month-on-month decline of 4.0 percent in December with a welcomed 1.6 percent increase in January. Regrettably, January's sales figures were still 10.3 percent lower than in January 2008. January seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores dropped 0.3 percent from the previous month and were 6.0 percent lower than in January 2008. Seasonally adjusted retail sales at all US general merchandise stores (which includes discount stores like Kohl's, Target and Wal-Mart as well as regular department stores) advanced 1.1 percent in January and were 1.5 percent higher than in January 2008.

02.17.09
Reflecting the current economic downturn in the US economy, US apparel and footwear imports in 2008 experienced their worse decline since the months after September 11, 2001. US apparel imports (actual data) dropped 2.7 percent to 22.7 billion SME worth $71.6 billion in 2008, compared 2007, while US footwear imports (actual data) slid 6.8 percent to 2.2 billion pairs worth $19.1 billion. For a more detailed summary of the trade numbers, please go to AAFA's website.

02.10.09
According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics February release of January 2009 (December 2008 for wholesale apparel trade and footwear) employment figures, US total apparel manufacturing employment followed a 3.2 percent decline in December with an even more severe 4.7 percent drop to 173,000 employees in January, and was 13.8 percent lower than in January 2008. This performance is the worst in recent recorded history and showcases the impact of the severe economic recession on the entire apparel industry, including the domestic apparel manufacturing sector. US apparel wholesale trade employment edged down 0.1 percent to 147,500 in December and was 3.0 percent lower than in December 2007. For the year, US apparel wholesale trade employment slipped to 149,000 workers, down 2.6 percent from 2007. December US footwear manufacturing employment was unchanged at 14,900 from the previous month but was 9.1 percent lower than in December 2007. For the year, US footwear manufacturing employment fell to 15,800 workers, a 3.7 percent decline from 2007. US textile mill (yarn, fabric, etc.) employment dropped 2.3 percent to 133,400 in January and was 16.9 percent lower than in January 2008. For its part, US textile product mill (sheets, blankets, towels, curtains, auto/furniture upholstery, etc.) employment went down by 3.3 percent in January to 137,700 and was 8.9 percent lower than in January 2008. US labor market conditions continued to worsen in January, with total non-farm employment declining by 598,000 workers on a seasonally-adjusted basis and the unemployment rate surging from 7.2 percent to 7.6 percent. Please note that the manufacturing figures include total employment (distribution, management, sales & marketing, R&D, administrative, etc., as well as production workers) at all US apparel, footwear and textile manufacturers.

1.20.09
According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics January 16 release seasonally-adjusted retail prices for all types of apparel declined by 0.9 percent in December after growing by 0.3 percent in November and dropping 1.0 percent in October. The December decrease was partly the result of lower average prices for women's outerwear (-4.9 percent), men's shirts and sweaters (-3.1 percent), men's suits, sport coats and outerwear (-2.5 percent) and girls' apparel (-2.2 percent). On the other hand, prices for boys' apparel (+3.0 percent) and men's furnishings (+0.9 percent) experienced significant inflation in December. Overall footwear prices declined 0.8 percent in December from the previous month, with prices for women's footwear 2.1 percent lower, prices for men's footwear 0.6 percent lower and prices for juvenile shoes 1.6 percent higher. Overall prices for apparel and footwear fell 0.1 percent in 2008 and were 1.0 percent lower in December 2008 than in December 2007. December prices for footwear (+1.5 percent) were higher than in December 2007, while prices for infants' and toddlers' apparel (-0.2 percent), men's and boys' apparel (-1.1 percent), and women's and girls' apparel (-3.6 percent) were lower. December overall retail prices for juvenile shoes were 4.6 percent above year-ago levels, while prices for men's shoes were 3.9 percent higher and prices for women's footwear were 1.5 percent lower. Overall retail prices declined for the third straight month in December, down by 0.7 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis from the previous month, dragged by substantially lower prices for energy and transportation. Retail prices increased by only 0.1 percent in 2008, the smallest increase in prices since the 1950s.

1.20.09
According to the US Census Bureau's 14 release of December Advance Monthly Sales, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, including shoe stores, followed a month-on-month increase of 0.1 percent in November with a drop of 2.5 percent in December, and were 7.1 percent lower than in December 2007. November seasonally adjusted retail sales at women's clothing stores grew 0.6 percent from October but were still 8.4 percent lower than in November 2007, while sales at all other clothing stores increased 0.9 percent from October but were 5.8 percent lower than in November 2007. November seasonally adjusted sales at shoe stores went up by 0.7 percent from the previous month but were 3.7 percent lower than in November 2007. December seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores dropped 2.3 percent from the previous month and were 7.2 percent lower than in December 2007. Seasonally adjusted retail sales at all US general merchandise stores (which includes discount stores like Kohl's, Target and Wal-Mart as well as regular department stores) went down by 1.3 percent in December and were 0.4 percent lower than in December 2007.

1.13.09
According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics 9 release of December 2008 (November 2008 for wholesale apparel trade and footwear) employment figures, US total apparel manufacturing employment followed a 0.9 percent decline in November with a more severe 2.2 percent drop to 184,100 employees in December, and was 9.6 percent lower than in December 2007. US apparel wholesale trade employment fell by 1.2 to 150,000 in November and was 3.8 percent lower than in November 2007. November US footwear manufacturing employment declined 1.3 percent to 15,200 from the previous month and was 5.0 percent lower than in November 2007. US textile mill (yarn, fabric, etc.) employment dropped 2.5 percent to 138,000 in December and was 15.0 percent lower than in December 2007. For its part, US textile product mill (sheets, blankets, towels, curtains, auto/furniture upholstery, etc.) employment went down by 1.6 percent in December to 143,100 and was 8.3 percent lower than in December 2007. For the year, total US apparel and textile manufacturing employment stood at 496,500 workers, an 8.3 percent decline from 2007. Since quotas were re-imposed on US apparel and textile imports in November 2005, US apparel and textile manufacturing employment has fallen by almost one-quarter, or by almost 150,000 workers. Overall US labor market conditions deteriorated further in December, with total non-farm employment declining by 524,000 workers on a seasonally-adjusted basis and the unemployment rate increasing from 6.8 percent to 7.2 percent. Please note that the manufacturing figures include total employment (distribution, management, sales & marketing, R&D, administrative, etc., as well as production workers) at all US apparel, footwear and textile manufacturers.

12.16.08
According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics 16 release of the November Consumer Price Index (CPI), seasonally-adjusted retail prices for all types of apparel rose 0.3 percent in November after falling by 1.2 percent in October and 0.1 percent in September. The November increase was partly the result of higher average prices for boys’ apparel (+2.4 percent), women’s underwear, nightwear, sportswear and accessories (+2.1 percent), women’s dresses (+0.7 percent), women’s suits and separates (+0.5 percent), and infants’ and toddlers’ apparel (+0.5 percent). On the other hand, prices for men’s pants and shorts (-2.3 percent), men’s suits, sports coats and outerwear (-2.0 percent), girls’ apparel (-1.5 percent), and men’s shirts and sweaters (-1.7 percent) declined noticeably in November. Overall footwear prices advanced 1.1 percent in November from the previous month, with prices for men’s footwear 1.8 percent higher, prices for juvenile shoes 1.5 percent higher and prices for women’s footwear 0.4 percent higher. Overall prices for apparel and footwear were 0.05 percent higher in November than in November 2007. November prices for footwear (+1.4 percent) were higher than in November 2007, while prices for men’s and boys’ apparel (-0.5 percent), infants’ and toddlers’ apparel (-1.1 percent) and women’s and girls’ apparel (-1.4 percent) were lower. November overall retail prices for juvenile shoes were 3.0 percent above year-ago levels, while prices for men’s shoes were 3.1 percent higher and prices for women’s footwear were 0.4 percent lower. Overall retail prices declined by a record 1.7 percent in November on a seasonally-adjusted basis, dragged down by substantially lower prices for energy and transportation. Retail prices remain modestly higher on year-on-year terms, up by 1.1 percent from November 2007.

12.16.08
Thanks to huge markdowns and aggressive marketing, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, including shoe stores, followed month-on-month declines of 4.1 percent in September and 2.0 percent in October with a surprising 0.8 percent increase in November. according to the US Census Bureau's 12 release of November Advance Monthly Sales. Despite this increase, November sales were still 5.8 percent lower in November than in November 2007. November seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores also went up by a surprisingly robust 2.1 percent from the previous month but were still 4.6 percent lower than in November 2007. Seasonally adjusted retail sales at all US general merchandise stores (which includes discount stores like Kohl's, Target and Wal-Mart as well as regular department stores) advanced 1.2 percent in November and were 2.6 percent higher than in November 2007.

12.16.08
US apparel imports data) declined 2.6 percent to 19.4 billion square meter equivalents (SME) worth $61.4 billion during January-October 2008, compared to January-October 2007, while US footwear imports data) slid 6.3 percent to 1.9 billion pairs worth $16.4 billion. For a more detailed summary of the trade numbers, please go to website.