In 2018, the total retail sales of shoes, hats and apparel reached 1370.7 billion yuan, an increase of 8% over the same period last year and an increase of 0.20% over the same period last year. As of April 2019, the total retail sales of shoes, hats and apparel in China amounted to 100 billion yuan, down 1.1% year on year. Accumulatively, the total retail sales of shoes, hats and apparel in China reached 441.8 billion yuan from January to April 2019, an increase of 2.2% over the same period last year.

Total retail sales and growth of footwear and hats in April 2018-2019

Total retail sales and growth of shoes, hats and apparel in China in April 2018-2019

The actual situation of the garment industry is more optimistic than expected. Compared with several rounds of adjustment in recent years, the overall environment of the industry is improving, the inventory situation is healthier, the store structure is more reasonable, and the competition pattern of the industry is clearer. Although the overall clothing consumption and the operation of listed companies were weak in the second half of 2018, compared with the large growth base of the first half of 2019 in the first half of 2018, the growth pressure in the second half of 2019 was greatly relieved. Meanwhile, overall consumption is expected to improve marginally. As a post-consumer cycle industry, the recovery of clothing consumption "may be late, but will not be absent".