Strong sales race in the fashion trade during the epidemic

Total clothing sales decreased by 26.3 percent in May, compared with the same month last year. The figure applies to sales in both the fashion stores' physical stores and in their online stores. It shows the style index from Swedish Trade Style.

So far this year, clothing sales have decreased by 17.3 percent and shoe sales by 35.4 percent.

- It is very clear that the fashion trade is still suffering very hard from the corona crisis. In other parts of the trade, it has been possible to see a certain turn, but clothes and shoes have been tough, says Karin Johansson to TT.

And without e-commerce, the sales figures would be even gloomier.

- If you remove it you can put on another few percent that disappear, says Johansson.

She believes that the outcome emphasizes the importance of extending the government's so-called transition support to companies so that more companies and jobs can be saved.

At the same time, she sees some positive tendencies as the mobility in society is relaxed.

- There is a pent-up need to buy clothes and shoes and I hope the summer weather can help increase sales.

Karin Johansson is critical that the government in the middle of the crisis sent out a proposal for a tax on clothes and shoes on referral. The purpose is to remove certain harmful chemicals and the proposal would mean that clothes and shoes are taxed at SEK 40 per kilo.

- It is completely deaf with such a treasure in the midst of a historically tough crisis. This tax is before the government to access the chemicals, but 84 percent of all clothing we buy does not contain these chemicals, says Johansson.