Fashion sales are in retreat across the UK as clothing purchases come under pressure from tight household finances and the lure of the gym, restaurants and entertainment. Women, who account for more than half the UK market and spend more than twice the amount men do on clothing, are cutting down on outfits and prioritising time with friends and family at pubs, restaurants and events, and going to the gym. Makeup and beauty product sales are on the rise among young women, with many also prioritising paying phone bills, rent and going to the gym. H&M closed six stores in the UK in the first three months of this year as sales stagnated; Inditex shut two last year. Meanwhile, working women appear to be spending less time on fashion and a rapid growth in online spendinghas hit sales in physical stores.

Source: The Guardian May 25, 2018 13:59 UTC