China's apparel retail value below 10% in H1, 2012 (China)

Although the apparel retail market began to warm up in the second quarter, it didn’t make any change on the sluggish condition in the first half year of 2012. According to China National Commercial Information Centre, in the first year of 2012, China’s yearly sales growth of apparel was only 9.82%, a steep fall compared to the previous year’s 21.81%. However, the retail value began to rebound in Q2.

Despite of the lower growth rate, retail value rallied apparently in Q2 and remained stable. Compared to the early period of this year, the spread of apparel sales growth rate in Q2 reduced apparently, which was attributed to the various promotional activities during the holidays.

Apparel retail value was up 9.82% year-on-year in the first half of 2012. Meantime, the retail volume only saw an increase of 0.99% from Jan to June, 2012, which meant that the growth of apparel retail value was mainly pushed by the price uplift.

The average growth rate of apparel retail sales was more than 20% in the first half year of 2011. However, the growth rate had been below 10% in H1, 2012.