Munich, July 24, 2025 – According to the trade journal TextilWirtschaft, brick-and-mortar fashion retailers in Germany recorded an average sales decline of 4% in the first half of 2025, based on current market data. The first quarter was already characterised by high volatility: strong sales weeks were regularly followed by periods of significantly lower demand, preventing a clear growth trend from emerging. Isolated positive developments were unable to significantly brighten the overall weak picture.
This volatile trend persisted into the second quarter. Unfavourable calendar effects further dampened consumer behaviour. The late occurrence of Easter and Pentecost suppressed key purchasing impulses, while June featured one fewer regular sales day compared to the previous year—and even two fewer in Bavaria. The absence of a high-turnover Saturday, which holds strategic importance for retailers, had an especially adverse impact on sales.
