US apparel imports (actual data) grew 4.8 percent to 19.9 billion SME worth $63.2 billion during January-October 2007, compared to January-October 2006, while US footwear imports (actual data) edged up 0.4 percent to 2.0 billion pairs worth $15.9 billion.

 

According to the US Census Bureau's December 13 release of November Advance Monthly Sales, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, including shoe stores, increased markedly in November, up by 2.6 percent, and were 6.6 percent higher than in November 2006. October seasonally adjusted retail sales at women's clothing stores inched up 0.1 percent from September and were 3.7 percent higher than in October 2006, while sales at all other clothing stores declined 0.8 percent from September but were still 3.6 percent higher than in October 2006. October seasonally adjusted sales at shoe stores went down by 1.6 percent from the previous month and were 5.7 percent lower than in October 2006. On the other hand, November seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores advanced 1.0 percent from the previous month but were still 0.4 percent lower than in November 2006. 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) grew 0.9 percent in November and were 5.0 percent higher than in November 2006. For their part, October retail sales at warehouse clubs and superstores went up by 0.4 percent from the previous month and were 7.8 percent higher than in October 2006.

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics December 14 release of the November Consumer Price Index (CPI), retail prices for all types of apparel declined for the first time in four months in November, down by 0.5 percent, primarily as a result of significantly lower prices for women's outerwear (-2.7 percent), women's dresses (-2.6 percent), women's suits and separates (-2.2 percent), and men's pants and shorts (-0.8 percent). Overall footwear prices grew 0.3 percent in November after increasing 1.2 percent in October and 2.4 percent in September. November prices for women's footwear were 0.8 percent lower than in October while prices for men's footwear and juvenile shoes were 1.2 percent higher and 2.1 percent higher, respectively. Overall prices for apparel and footwear were still 0.4 percent lower in November than in November 2006. November prices for women's and girls' apparel (-1.5 percent), men's and boys' apparel (-0.7 percent), and infants' and toddlers' apparel (-0.2 percent) were all below year-ago levels, while prices for footwear were 0.4 percent higher. November overall retail prices for men's shoes were 1.6 percent below year-ago levels, while prices for women's footwear were 0.9 percent higher and prices for juvenile shoes were 2.1 percent higher. Apparel and footwear prices again failed to keep pace with overall retail prices. Overall retail prices increased 0.6 percent in November, prior to seasonal adjustment, spurred by higher prices for energy and transportation. Retail prices also increased on year-on-year terms, up by 4.3 percent from November 2006.

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics December 7 release of November 2007 (October 2007 for wholesale apparel trade and footwear) employment figures, US total apparel manufacturing employment grew 0.5 percent to 210,900 employees from the previous month but was still 8.8 percent lower than in November 2006. October US apparel wholesale trade employment edged up 0.1 percent to 149,900 from the previous month and was 0.5 percent higher than in October 2006. US footwear manufacturing employment has remained relatively stable since July, increasing by 0.6 percent in both August and September and declining by the same margin in October. However, October footwear manufacturing employment was still 7.6 percent lower than in October 2006 at 15,800 workers. US textile mill (yarn, fabric, etc.) employment declined for the thirtieth consecutive month in November, down by 0.5 percent from the previous month to 165,800 employees, and was 10.9 percent lower than in November 2006. For its part, November US textile product mill (sheets, blankets, towels, curtains, auto/furniture upholstery, etc.) employment fell 0.9 percent from the previous month to 150,400 and was 4.3 percent lower than in November 2006. 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.

According to the US Census Bureau's November 14 release of October Advance Monthly Sales, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, including shoe stores, increased for the second straight month in October, up by a modest 0.1 percent, and were 4.4 percent higher than in October 2006. September seasonally adjusted retail sales at women's clothing stores declined 1.0 percent from August but were still 2.0 percent higher than in September 2006, while sales at all other clothing stores rose 0.5 percent from August and were 4.3 percent higher than in September 2006. September seasonally adjusted sales at shoe stores went down by 2.0 percent from the previous month and were 4.9 percent lower than in September 2006. Similarly, October seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores dropped 0.5 percent from the previous month and were 2.1 percent lower than in October 2006. 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) suffered a slight 0.1 percent month-on-month decline in October but were still 3.6 percent higher than in October 2006. For their part, September retail sales at warehouse clubs and superstores inched down 0.03 percent but were still a healthy 8.1 percent higher than in September 2006.

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics November 15 release of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI), retail prices for all types of apparel grew for the third straight month in October, up by 1.9 percent, primarily as a result of significantly higher prices for women’s outerwear (+4.6 percent), boys’ apparel (+3.7 percent), infants’ and toddlers’ apparel (+3.1 percent), girls’ clothing (+2.9 percent), and women’s suits and separates (+2.8 percent). Overall footwear prices grew 1.2 percent in October after increasing 2.4 percent in September and 0.8 percent in August. October prices for women’s footwear were 2.9 percent higher than in September while prices for men’s footwear and juvenile shoes were 0.2 percent lower and 0.6 percent lower, respectively. Despite the recent bout of inflation, overall prices for apparel and footwear were still 1.2 percent lower in October than in October 2006. October prices for women’s and girls’ apparel (-2.6 percent), men’s and boys’ apparel (-1.2 percent), infants’ and toddlers’ apparel (-1.9 percent) and footwear (-0.7 percent) were all below year-ago levels. October overall retail prices for men’s shoes were 2.0 percent below year-ago levels, while prices for juvenile shoes were 1.0 percent lower and prices for women’s footwear were 0.2 percent higher. Overall retail prices increased 0.2 percent in October prior to seasonal adjustment spurred by higher prices for medical care and apparel. Retail prices also increased on year-on-year terms, up by 3.5 percent from October 2006.

US apparel imports (actual data) grew 5.0 percent to 17.7 billion SME worth $56.1 billion during January-September 2007, compared to January-September 2006, while US footwear imports (actual data) increased 1.1 percent to 1.9 billion pairs worth $14.5 billion. US apparel imports from Central America and the Dominican Republic fell 2.1 percent during January-September dragged down by significantly lower US demand for cotton trousers and underwear from the Dominican Republic. US apparel imports from the CAFTA region accounted for only 14.1 percent of total imports during January-September 2007 versus 15.1 percent for the same period last year. US fabric exports to the CAFTA region declined 7.4 percent during January-September 2007 versus January-September 2006, hurt by sluggish sales to the Dominican Republic (-29.9 percent) and, to a less extent, El Salvador (-4.6 percent) and Guatemala (-3.6 percent), but US yarn exports grew by 25.2 percent as a result of robust demand in Honduras (+23.7 percent), the Dominican Republic (+52.4 percent), El Salvador (+12.3 percent) and Guatemala (+10.0 percent). US yarn exports to China grew 31.7 percent during January-September 2007 but fabric shipments increased by a comparably modest 3.9 percent during this period as a result of a sharp slowdown during the second quarter of the year. US exports of cotton to China plunged 33.3 percent to $1.3 billion during January-September 2007, compared to January-September 2006, after growing vigorously in 2006. While growth has slowed in recent months, US apparel imports from China still surged 32.0 percent to 6.1 billion SME worth $17.3 billion during January-September thanks to rising demand for a wide range of products, especially dresses, women's and girls' cotton trousers, underwear, nightwear and cotton sweaters. China remains the largest apparel supplier to the United States with a 34.4 percent share of total US apparel imports during January-September 2007, up from a share of 27.4 percent during January-September 2006. The quotas placed on China have largely failed to bring trade back to the Western Hemisphere (as claimed by the quotas' supporters). Rather, US apparel imports from a number of other countries continued to grow moderately during January-September 2007, including #2 Bangladesh (+6.2 percent), #3 Vietnam (+27.0 percent), #6 Indonesia (+5.8 percent), #7 India (+5.4 percent) and #10 Pakistan (+4.5 percent). Demand for Vietnamese apparel has expanded noticeably during January-September despite the decision by the Bush administration to establish a monitoring program earlier this year on textile and apparel imports from that country. The Department of Commerce's recent decision not to initiate any antidumping investigations at this time on imports from Vietnam is likely to have a positive effect on apparel shipments from that country. At the same time, the CAFTA is having a positive effect on imports from several Central American countries, namely #5 Honduras (+4.7 percent), #9 El Salvador (+12.4 percent) and #18 Nicaragua (+16.5 percent). On the other hand, imports from countries like #4 Mexico (-18.2 percent), #11 Thailand (-8.5 percent), #12 Philippines (-22.9 percent), #14 Dominican Republic (-33.2 percent), #15 Guatemala (-11.7 percent), #16 Hong Kong (-41.0 percent), #17 Taiwan (-18.5 percent), #20 Jordan (-13.5 percent), #22 Macau (-21.1 percent), #23 Malaysia (-7.7 percent), #25 South Korea (-36.2 percent), #26 Turkey (-30.9 percent), #27 Canada (-25.4 percent) and #30 Colombia (-26.5 percent) did poorly during January-September 2007. The renewal of the third-country fabric provision included in the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade preference program had a positive effect on US apparel imports from sub-Sahara Africa, which grew by 3.8 percent during January-September 2007. For their part, US apparel imports from the Andean region dropped 11.6 percent during this period.

Meanwhile, US footwear imports from China increased 2.7 percent to 1.6 billion pairs worth $10.7 billion during January-September 2007. China is by far the largest footwear supplier to the United States with an 87.6 percent share of total US footwear imports during January-September 2007, up from an 86.2 percent share during January-September 2006. US footwear imports from a number of countries achieved considerable growth during January-September 2007, including #2 Vietnam (+6.3 percent), #7 Taiwan (+35.5 percent), #8 Mexico (+4.8 percent) and #12 Canada (+13.0 percent). Vietnam is consolidating its position as the second largest US footwear supplier as Vietnamese producers continue to shift their focus away from the European market to avoid the dumping duties that were imposed by the European Commission on certain leather shoes in 2006. Conversely, imports from #3 Brazil (-21.9 percent), #4 Indonesia (-21.0 percent), #5 Italy (-8.0 percent), #6 Thailand (-15.9 percent), #10 Hong Kong (-35.5 percent), #11 Dominican Republic (-31.4 percent), #14 Germany (-6.3 percent), #16 Romania (-34.4 percent), #17 Philippines (-19.7 percent) and #19 Portugal (-33.1 percent) suffered significant declines during January-September 2007. US demand for Western European and Brazilian shoes has been hurt by the rising values of the euro and the Brazilian real, while imports from the Dominican Republic have suffered as a result of delays in the implementation of the CAFTA.

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics November 2 release of October 2007 (September 2007 for wholesale apparel trade and footwear) employment figures, US total apparel manufacturing employment declined 1.9 percent to 210,600 employees from the previous month and was 9.7 percent lower than in October 2006. September US apparel wholesale trade employment rose 0.3 percent to 149,900 from the previous month but was still 0.6 percent lower than in September 2006. US footwear manufacturing employment has rebounded from a 5.4 percent month-on-month decline in July with increases of 0.6 percent in both August and September. Despite this growth, September footwear employment was still 5.4 percent lower than in September 2006 at 15,900. US textile mill (yarn, fabric, etc.) employment declined for the twenty-ninth consecutive month in October, down by 0.6 percent from the previous month to 166,500 employees, and was 11.2 percent lower than in October 2006. For its part, October US textile product mill (sheets, blankets, towels, curtains, auto/furniture upholstery, etc.) employment fell 0.2 percent from the previous month to 151,300 and was 5.0 percent lower than in October 2006. 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.

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics October 17 release of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI), retail prices for all types of apparel grew for the second straight month in September, up by 4.5 percent, primarily as a result of significantly higher prices for women's outerwear (+15.8 percent), women's dresses (+13.4 percent), women's suits and separates (+9.4 percent), boys' garments (+7.7 percent), and men's shirts and sweaters (+6.3 percent). Overall footwear prices grew 2.4 percent in September after increasing 0.8 percent in August and falling 1.0 percent in July. September prices for women's footwear (+1.2 percent), men's footwear (+1.9 percent) and especially juvenile shoes (+5.7 percent) were higher than in August. Despite the recent bout of inflation, overall prices for apparel and footwear were still 1.8 percent lower in September than in September 2006. September prices for women's and girls' apparel (-3.2 percent), men's and boys' apparel (-1.8 percent), infants' apparel (-2.5 percent) and footwear (-0.8 percent) were all below year-ago levels. September overall retail prices for men's shoes were 2.0 percent below year-ago levels, while prices for women's shoes were 0.5 percent lower and prices for juvenile shoes were 0.3 percent higher. Overall retail prices increased 0.3 percent in September prior to seasonal adjustment spurred by higher prices for food, education and apparel. Retail prices also increased on year-on-year terms, up by 2.8 percent from September 2006.

 

US apparel imports (actual data) grew 6.1 percent to 15.4 billion SME worth $49.1 billion during January-August 2007, compared to January-August 2006, while US footwear imports (actual data) increased 1.3 percent to 1.7 billion pairs worth $12.9 billion. US apparel imports from Central America and the Dominican Republic fell 1.0 percent during January-August as an increase in US demand for cotton socks, men's and boys' manmade fiber trousers, men's and boys' cotton knit pullovers and manmade fiber dresses from the region was not sufficient to offset large declines in shipments of men's and boys' cotton trousers, cotton underwear, manmade fiber swimwear, and women's and girls' cotton coats and jackets. US fabric exports to the CAFTA region declined 7.6 percent during January-August 2007 versus January-August 2006, hurt by sluggish sales to the Dominican Republic (-28.0 percent), El Salvador (-6.0 percent), Guatemala (-4.9 percent) and Nicaragua (-7.2 percent), but US yarn exports went up by 25.9 percent as a result of robust demand in Honduras (+23.9 percent), the Dominican Republic (+55.7 percent), El Salvador (+10.0 percent) and Guatemala (+10.7 percent). US yarn exports to China grew 36.2 percent during January-August 2007 but fabric shipments increased by only 1.7 percent during this period as a result of a sharp slowdown in recent months. US exports of cotton to China plunged 40.0 percent to $1.2 billion during January-August 2007, compared to January-August 2006, after growing vigorously in 2006, but remained the number one export market for US cotton. While growth has slowed in recent months, US apparel imports from China still surged 35.6 percent to 5.1 billion SME worth $14.7 billion during January-August thanks to rising demand for a wide range of products, especially dresses, underwear, nightwear, women's and girls' cotton trousers and cotton sweaters. China remains the largest apparel supplier to the United States with a 33.3 percent share of total US apparel imports during January-August 2007, up from a share of 26.1 percent during January-August 2006. The quotas placed on China have largely failed to bring trade back to the Western Hemisphere (as claimed by the quotas' supporters). Rather, US apparel imports from a number of other countries continued to grow moderately during January-August 2007, including #2 Bangladesh (+9.2 percent), #4 Vietnam (+27.3 percent), #6 Indonesia (+9.4 percent) and #7 India (+5.9 percent). US demand for Vietnamese apparel has expanded noticeably during January-August despite the decision by the Bush administration to establish a monitoring program earlier this year on textile and apparel imports from that country. At the same time, the CAFTA is having a positive effect on imports from several Central American countries, namely #5 Honduras (+5.2 percent), #9 El Salvador (+14.2 percent) and #18 Nicaragua (+19.4 percent). On the other hand, imports from countries like #3 Mexico (-17.9 percent), #11 Thailand (-7.1 percent), #12 Philippines (-22.3 percent), #14 Dominican Republic (-32.1 percent), #15 Guatemala (-11.4 percent), #16 Hong Kong (-41.1 percent), #17 Taiwan (-18.9 percent), #21 Jordan (-15.3 percent), #22 Macau (-21.5 percent), #23 Malaysia (-6.8 percent), #25 South Korea (-36.6 percent), #26 Turkey (-30.3 percent), #27 Canada (-25.2 percent) and #30 Colombia (-25.4 percent) did poorly during January-August 2007. The renewal of the third-country fabric provision included in the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade preference program had a positive effect on US apparel imports from sub-Sahara Africa, which grew by 4.8 percent during January-August 2007. For their part, US apparel imports from the Andean region dropped 10.6 percent during this period, due to the continued uncertainty over continuation of the Andean trade preference program and passage and implementation of the free trade agreements.

Meanwhile, US footwear imports from China increased 2.9 percent to 1.5 billion pairs worth $9.5 billion during January-August 2007. China is by far the largest footwear supplier to the United States with an 87.5 percent share of total US footwear imports during January-August 2007, up from an 86.1 percent share during January-August 2006. US footwear imports from a number of countries achieved considerable growth during January-August 2007, including #2 Vietnam (+7.7 percent), #7 Taiwan (+36.9 percent), #13 Canada (+8.2 percent), #15 South Korea (+7.1 percent) and #18 Poland (+9.5 percent). Vietnam is consolidating its position as the second largest US footwear supplier as Vietnamese producers continue to shift their focus away from the European market to avoid the dumping duties that were imposed by the European Commission on certain leather shoes in 2006. Conversely, US imports from #3 Brazil (-21.7 percent), #4 Indonesia (-19.4 percent), #5 Italy (-7.1 percent), #6 Thailand (-14.7 percent), #8 India (-6.9 percent), #10 Hong Kong (-39.1 percent), #11 Dominican Republic (-30.3 percent), #14 Germany (-9.4 percent), #16 Romania (-36.4 percent), #17 Philippines (-27.7 percent) and #19 Portugal (-33.1 percent) suffered significant declines during January-August 2007. US demand for Western European and Brazilian shoes has been hurt by the rising values of the euro and the Brazilian real, while imports from the Dominican Republic have suffered as a result of delays in the implementation of the CAFTA.

According to the US Census Bureau's October 12 release of September Advance Monthly Sales, seasonally adjusted retail sales at US clothing and clothing accessories stores, including shoe stores, declined for the second straight month in September, down by 0.4 percent, following a 0.2 percent month-on-month drop in August. Despite this decline, sales were still 2.4 percent higher than in September 2006. August seasonally adjusted retail sales at women's clothing stores advanced 1.2 percent from July and were 6.7 percent higher than in August 2006, while sales at all other clothing stores fell 0.4 percent from July and were 7.7 percent higher than in August 2006. August seasonally adjusted sales at shoe stores went up by 1.1 percent from the previous month and were 2.6 percent higher than in August 2006. On the other hand, September seasonally adjusted retail sales at US department stores dropped 0.5 percent from the previous month and were 2.2 percent lower than in September 2006. 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) suffered a slight 0.1 percent month-on-month decline in September but were still 3.7 percent higher than in September 2006. For their part, August retail sales at warehouse clubs and superstores continued to grow vigorously, advancing 0.6 percent from July and 9.8 percent from August 2006.

 

The NPD Group, Inc., announced September 24 that the world consumption of sporting goods totaled $256 billion in 2006, a four percent increase over 2005. The largest and fastest-growing segment of the sports market is apparel, which grew 6 percent in 2006. Apparel accounts for 44 percent of the global sports market. Fueled by the growing trend of activewear as fashion, the US sports apparel market led the way, posting 8 percent growth, followed by growth of 5 percent in Asia and 3 percent in Europe. Global athletic footwear sales increased 3 percent. The US (up 3 percent) and European (up 1 percent) were the primary contributors to that growth.

 

According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics October 5 release of September 2007 (August 2007 for wholesale apparel trade and footwear) employment figures, US total apparel manufacturing employment declined 0.1 percent to 214,200 employees from the previous month and was 9.5 percent lower than in September 2006. August US apparel wholesale trade employment rose 0.7 percent to 149,400 from the previous month but was still 1.9 percent lower than in August 2006. Within this sector, August employment in women’s and children’s wholesale establishments increased 0.6 percent from the previous month to 62,400 employees but was 5.9 percent lower than in August 2006, while employment in men’s and boys’ wholesale establishments advanced 1.0 percent to 30,900 employees from July but was still 0.6 percent lower than in August 2006. US footwear manufacturing employment rebounded from a 5.4 percent month-on-month decline in July with a 0.6 percent increase to 15,800 in August. Despite this growth, August footwear employment was still 8.7 percent lower than in August 2006. US textile mill (yarn, fabric, etc.) employment declined for the twenty eighth consecutive month in September, down by 1.4 percent from the previous month to 166,100 employees, and was 12.1 percent lower than in September 2006. For its part, September US textile product mill (sheets, blankets, towels, curtains, auto/furniture upholstery, etc.) employment fell 1.2 percent from the previous month to 151,300 and was 4.5 percent lower than in September 2006. 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.