Retail clothing & accessories sales decline in August
19 Oct '05
2 min read
Sales at large retailers reversed course in August, declining 0.5 percent. .
Sales had been up by about 1 percent in each of the two previous months. .
Prior to this, other than slight declines in April and May, sales have risen steadily in 2005. .
In 2004, sales increased rapidly up until the fall, before decelerating in the final few months of the year.
In August, five of the eight major commodity groups saw their sales decline compared to July. .
Sporting and leisure good sales, as well as clothing, footwear and accessory sales moved sharply lower at large retailers in August. .
Going the other way, sales of other goods and services (which include products such as automotive fuels, oils and additives, tobacco, stationery and pet food) increased for a fourth consecutive month.
Sporting and leisure good sales did an about face in August, dropping 2.9 percent and losing all of the sales gains of the previous two months.
Sporting good sales also pulled back at large retailers, dropping 3.7 percent following two months of strong growth.
Clothing, footwear and accessory sales at large retailers slide lower in August, the third decline in four months. .
Sales of women's and girls' clothing and accessories were particularly hard hit, dropping by 4.3 percent and 5.8 percent respectively.
After a period of strong growth which started in the summer of 2004, women's clothing sales took a turn for the worse in the spring of 2005, trending downwards over the past several months. .
Apparel sales for men and boys fared somewhat better in August, with men's sales decreasing 2.7 percent and boys' clothing sales eking out a slight gain of 0.4 percent.
marketing@alchempro.com
