French Apparel Market Face to slowing

French apparel market and high-end clothing enterprises face to slow development this spring. Data show that French clothing sales fell down in March and sales are not optimistic continue in April. According to the French Fashion Institute’s statistics quoted by French “Le Figaro”, the total sales of clothing fell 9.1% year-on-year in March and all types of clothing sales are declining such as female clothing fell 17% and male clothing down 11%. It is estimated that April will decline in 5% to 10%.
Analysts believe that the main reason for shrinkage of apparel market was increased prices lead to purchasing power down by residents. March and April, French family consumer confident index recorded to be lower than before and the direct way to cut expenditure by family is reduce the clothing spending. It is not unique to France of apparel market decline. By the impact of sub prime lending crisis, clothing market slump down in United States and Britain before Christmas Eve, then spread to Germany, Italy and Spain. In March 2008, famous brand HM global sales down 8%, GAP dropped 12% and CA decrease of 15%.