The results published by the French Fashion Institute (IFM) for March 2024 show that retail sales in France for the apparel sector increased by 1.4% over 2023. “The calendar contributed positively to this result, since there were five Saturdays in March 2024 as opposed to four in 2023,” said the IFM. Sales were down 10% compared to March 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Retail sales generated in-store were buoyant and grew by 4.1%, but those in the e-tail channel fell by 4.9%. Mid-market fashion chains recorded the highest growth rate, improving by 7.8%, while hypermarkets and supermarkets were the worst performers, their sales dropping by 5.4%.

Altogether, overall sales in Q1 2024 were 0.9% down compared to the same period a year ago. “Retailers said that sales volumes fell on average by 2.4% in Q1 2024, while average prices continued to grow, rising by 1.7% over Q1 2023,” said the IFM.