August 2010 U.S. Apparel Retail Sales Increase

In the apparel sector, retail sales showed a sequential increase. Specifically, sales at apparel stores reached $18.28 billion in August 2010, reflecting a 1.2% rise from the previous month and a year-on-year growth of 3.9%. Meanwhile, integrated stores reported total sales of $50.89 billion, which marked a 0.4% increase from the prior quarter and a 3.0% annual growth. However, department store sales slightly declined, reaching $15.48 billion, with a 0.4% increase from the previous quarter but a 1.2% drop year-over-year.

Looking at inventory ratios in July 2010, the apparel industry showed an upward trend. The sales-to-inventory ratio for apparel stores remained stable at 2.33, indicating consistent performance. The overall store inventory sales ratio improved slightly from 1.43 in June to 1.44, while department store inventory sales ratio increased from 2.02 in May to 2.05. These figures suggest that retailers were managing their stock more effectively, potentially signaling a positive outlook for the sector as it moved into the latter half of 2010.