UK Clothing & Footwear Sector Report summary
February 2025
Period covered: 29 December 2024 – 01 February 2025
3 minute read
Note: This report summary is one or two months behind the current month as standard reporting practice. The content is indicative only and incomplete with certain data undisclosed. Become a member to access this data or take out a free 30-day membership trial now.
Clothing & Footwear Sales
Clothing sales rose by xx% YoY, while Footwear sales fell xx% YoY in January, according to the Retail Economics Retail Sales Index (value, non-seasonally adjusted).
Key sales drivers
- Clothing & Footwear sales’ performance in January reflects several upside (+) and downside (-) factors including:
- Cold weather(+): A cold start to the month, with wintry conditions in the first half and a mean temperature of xx°C, provided a boost for seasonal sales and demand for winterwear.
- Consumer confidence plunge(-): The GfK consumer confidence index fell by xx points to -xxin January, marking the sharpest December-to-January decline since 2011. All five measures of confidence declined.
- Wellness focus(+): Wellness and health played its usual role in January, with consumers focused on making healthy choices, providing a boost to sportswear sales.
- Stormy weather (-): Storm Eowyn, the strongest UK storm in 10 years, brought winds over 100mph and caused widespread power outages in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Footfall plunged xx% YoY in Scotland during the month.
Consumer mood in 2025
New research from Retail Economics and NatWest has found that most households feel less wealthy than they did five years ago, a sentiment which closely mirrors actual changes in discretionary income.
Lower and middle-income households have experienced the most sustained pressure, while affluent households have seen gains in their wealth.
Lower income households in particular have faced disproportionate pressure as a result of inflationary essentials, spending more of their income on basics such as food and fuel. Inflation is, by some margin, households’ biggest worry in 2025.
Households are adjusting financial strategies in response to these evolving economic conditions, prioritising debt reduction, savings, and selective spending. Debt reduction remains crucial for over half of households, especially 25-44-year-olds, middle-income earners, and mortgage holders.
When they do spend, consumers are protecting their holiday spend – particularly older, more affluent shoppers.
Worryingly, in 2025, a quarter of consumers (xx%) plan to postpone apparel purchases, while xx% are opting for more affordable brands.
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Clothing and Footwear year-on-year growth
Source: Retail Economics, ONS, seasonally adjusted
