Clothing Retail Industry Statistics

In the U.S., 21.6% of consumers said they shopped online for apparel in the past month [1]

In the U.S., 52% of online shoppers bought apparel online in 2020 [2]

64% of global consumers consider sustainability when choosing brands [3]

73% of consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce environmental impact [4]

50% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable brands (global) [5]

60% of consumers expect delivery in 2 days or less for online purchases (U.S.) [6]

49% of consumers consider price as the most important factor when buying apparel [7]

47% of consumers say quality is the most important factor when buying apparel [7]

35% of consumers say fit/comfort is the most important factor when buying clothing [7]

61% of shoppers abandon websites due to slow load times [8]

44% of online shoppers say product reviews influence their purchase decisions [9]

54% of consumers want to see more transparent pricing [10]

42% of consumers returned an online purchase at least once in the past 12 months [11]

31% of consumers return online clothing due to fit issues [12]

26% of consumers return online clothing due to quality concerns [12]

73% of millennials say they prefer to buy sustainable products [12]

70% of consumers want to see sustainability information about products [3]

58% of consumers are influenced by social media when purchasing apparel [13]

41% of consumers follow fashion brands on social media [13]

27% of consumers bought apparel because of influencer content [14]

46% of consumers say they use mobile apps to shop for fashion [15]

38% of consumers say they use mobile apps to compare prices before buying apparel [15]

35% of consumers used “buy online, pick up in store” at least once in the past year [16]

42% of shoppers are more likely to purchase when free returns are offered [17]

38% of consumers expect free returns for online apparel [17]

55% of shoppers would wait for a discount to buy clothing [18]

48% of shoppers have bought clothing from resale platforms [19]

26% of U.S. shoppers say they prefer thrifting over buying new clothing [20]

44% of consumers want more inclusive sizing options in apparel brands [21]

32% of consumers consider brand reputation most important in apparel purchases [22]

53% of consumers use mobile to look for product information before buying apparel [23]

U.S. clothing retailers employed about 1.3 million workers in 2023 [24]

U.S. retail trade employment was 16.5 million in 2023 (all retail) [25]

U.S. clothing and clothing accessories stores (NAICS 448) employment was 2.0 million in 2023 [26]

U.S. apparel manufacturing employment was 1.0 million in 2023 [27]

In the U.S., the number of apparel retail establishments was about 295,000 in 2022 [28]

The number of retail stores declined by 1.2% in 2023 in the U.S. [29]

Market concentration: top 4 firms share of sales in U.S. apparel retail was 25% [30]

The U.S. clothing retail industry had moderate barriers to entry (industry analysis index score) [31]

The U.S. apparel specialty stores industry had high competition (industry analysis score) [32]

The U.K. clothing & footwear retail sector had 39,000 businesses in 2023 [33]

France clothing retail businesses count was 15,000 in 2023 [34]

Germany clothing retail businesses count was 17,500 in 2023 [35]

Italy clothing retail businesses count was 11,300 in 2023 [36]

Spain clothing retail businesses count was 9,200 in 2023 [37]

India had about 200,000 clothing retail businesses in 2022 [38]

China had about 1.6 million clothing-related retail outlets in 2022 [39]

Number of apparel and footwear retailers in the EU was about 290,000 in 2022 [40]

The share of independent boutiques in the U.S. apparel retail market was about 33% [31]

The share of chain stores in U.S. apparel retail market was about 67% [31]

In the U.S., off-price apparel retailers accounted for 25% of apparel sales in 2023 [41]

In the U.S., fast fashion retailers accounted for 20% of apparel sales in 2023 [42]

In the U.K., online apparel accounted for 30% of total apparel sales in 2023 [43]

In France, online apparel accounted for 25% of apparel sales in 2023 [34]

In Germany, online apparel accounted for 28% of apparel sales in 2023 [44]

In U.S., department stores closed 373 stores in 2023 [45]

In U.S., specialty apparel stores closed 1,500 stores in 2023 [45]

In U.S., apparel retailer bankruptcies declined by 10% in 2023 [46]

Global textile and apparel trade accounted for 2.1% of total world trade in 2022 [47]

The top apparel exporters in 2022 were China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and Turkey (top 5 share) [48]

In the U.S., apparel industry wages averaged $16.50 per hour in 2023 [24]

In the U.S., retail salespersons median pay was $16.00/hour in 2023 [49]

In the U.S., cashiers median pay was $13.25/hour in 2023 [49]

The average apparel retail gross margin in the U.S. was 58.8% in 2021 [50]

U.S. apparel retail inventory turnover was 3.8x in 2021 [51]

U.S. apparel retail operating margin was 6.9% in 2021 [52]

U.S. apparel retail net profit margin was 4.0% in 2021 [53]

The U.S. clothing retail industry (NAICS 4481) had a median ROE of 25.5% in 2022 [31]

The U.S. clothing retail industry (NAICS 4481) had median operating expenses of 93.2% of revenue in 2022 [31]

The U.S. specialty clothing stores industry (NAICS 4482) revenue was $162.0 billion in 2023 [32]

The U.S. clothing manufacturing industry average gross margin was 35.0% in 2023 [54]

U.S. department stores industry (NAICS 4521) revenue was $62.3 billion in 2023 [55]

U.S. online clothing retail companies saw average return on assets of 7.6% in 2023 [56]

U.S. clothing retailers’ return on equity averaged 17.2% in 2023 [57]

U.K. clothing retailers’ average gross margin was 43% in 2023 [58]

France apparel retailers’ average gross margin was 45% in 2023 [58]

Germany apparel retailers’ average gross margin was 44% in 2023 [58]

Spain apparel retailers’ average gross margin was 46% in 2023 [58]

Japan apparel retailers’ average operating margin was 5.2% in FY2023 [59]

U.S. inventory shrinkage rate was 0.9% in 2023 (retail) [60]

Global apparel retail markdown rate averaged 28% of merchandise in 2023 [61]

U.S. retailers lost $112.1 billion to shrink in 2022 [62]

U.S. apparel and footwear e-commerce return rate was 20% in 2023 [11]

Global apparel e-commerce return rates ranged 20%–30% [63]

U.S. retailers’ average chargeback rate was 0.28% in 2023 [64]

Payment fraud losses for retail were $12.4 billion in 2022 globally [65]

Average discount rate for apparel promotions in the U.S. was 30% in 2023 [66]

Black Friday apparel deal discount averaged 32% in 2023 [67]

U.K. online fashion conversion rate averaged 1.9% in 2023 [68]

U.S. online apparel conversion rate averaged 2.2% in 2023 [69]

U.S. retailers’ average cart abandonment rate was 70% in 2023 [70]

U.S. retailers’ average refund rate was 4.9% in 2023 [71]

Global fashion brand valuation grew to $1.2 trillion in 2023 [72]

Global luxury apparel pricing power: consumers willing to pay premium of 15% on average [73]

U.S. apparel retailers’ EBITDA margin median was 12.3% in 2023 [74]

Global apparel retailer credit losses were 1.1% in 2023 [75]

U.S. retail apparel shrink due to theft and fraud was $20.1 billion in 2022 [62]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories increased by 2.1% in 2023 (seasonally adjusted) [76]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories increased by 3.4% in 2022 (seasonally adjusted) [77]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories increased by 1.9% in 2021 (seasonally adjusted) [78]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories were $234.5 billion in 2023 [76]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories were $226.8 billion in 2022 [77]

U.S. retail sales of clothing and clothing accessories were $218.0 billion in 2021 [78]

Global apparel market size was $1,586.7 billion in 2024 [79]

Global apparel market size was $1,525.7 billion in 2023 [79]

Global apparel market size was $1,467.6 billion in 2022 [79]

Global apparel market size was $1,404.7 billion in 2021 [79]

Global apparel market size was $1,344.3 billion in 2020 [79]

Global clothing retail sales in 2023 were $1.1 trillion [80]

U.S. e-commerce sales share of total retail sales in 2023 was 15.6% (all retail) [81]

U.S. apparel e-commerce sales reached $160.2 billion in 2023 [82]

U.S. apparel e-commerce sales reached $142.2 billion in 2022 [83]

U.S. apparel e-commerce sales reached $122.2 billion in 2021 [84]

China online apparel sales were RMB 2688.1 billion in 2023 [85]

China online apparel sales were RMB 2411.4 billion in 2022 [85]

UK clothing and footwear retail sales were £56.4 billion in 2023 [86]

France clothing and footwear retail sales were €58.1 billion in 2023 [40]

Germany clothing retail sales were €29.5 billion in 2023 (calendar adjusted) [87]

India’s online clothing and footwear market size was $8.5 billion in 2023 [88]

Indonesia online fashion sales were $8.3 billion in 2023 [89]

Spain clothing retail sales were €18.9 billion in 2023 [90]

Italy clothing retail sales were €19.8 billion in 2023 [91]

Brazil online apparel market size was $19.3 billion in 2023 [92]

South Korea online apparel sales were KRW 8.7 trillion in 2023 [93]

Canada retail sales of clothing and accessories were C$ 30.3 billion in 2023 [94]

Australia retail trade: clothing retail sales were A$ 36.5 billion in 2023 [95]

Japan apparel e-commerce sales were ¥ 1.3 trillion in 2023 [96]

Global fast fashion market size was $184.6 billion in 2022 [97]

Global activewear market size was $357.6 billion in 2024 [98]

U.S. department store sales declined 1.4% in 2023 (seasonally adjusted) [99]

U.S. specialty apparel retailers sales increased by 4.0% in 2023 (seasonally adjusted) [100]

Global fashion market revenue forecast reached $2.5 trillion in 2024 [101]

The U.S. online shopping sales were $1.2 trillion in 2023 [81]

U.S. apparel online sales were $160.2 billion in 2023 [82]

U.S. retail e-commerce sales grew 9.8% in 2023 vs 2022 [82]

In 2023, 15.6% of total U.S. retail sales were e-commerce [81]

In 2022, 14.2% of total U.S. retail sales were e-commerce [81]

In 2021, 13.1% of total U.S. retail sales were e-commerce [81]

U.S. fulfillment costs for retailers averaged 17.9% of revenue in 2023 [102]

Global supply chain lead times for apparel reduced by 10% in 2023 (index) [103]

U.S. retailers used 3.2 delivery carriers on average in 2023 [104]

Share of U.S. consumers using buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) was 44% in 2023 [16]

U.S. consumers using curbside pickup were 37% in 2023 [16]

Average same-day delivery adoption among major retailers was 62% in 2023 [105]

In 2023, 73% of consumers said real-time inventory availability affects where they shop [106]

2023 apparel stockouts caused an estimated 4% loss of potential sales (index) [107]

Apparel inventory is held on average 64 days before sale in the U.S. [108]

Global apparel returns cost retailers an estimated $450 billion annually [109]

Reverse logistics costs for retailers averaged 20%–30% of product value [110]

U.S. average shipping cost paid by retailers for last-mile deliveries was $8.43 per package in 2023 [111]

U.K. last-mile delivery cost averaged £6.30 per parcel in 2023 [112]

France last-mile delivery cost averaged €5.70 per parcel in 2023 [113]

Average online apparel delivery time in the U.S. was 3.2 days in 2023 [114]

The share of U.S. consumers expecting deliveries in under 2 days was 60% in 2023 [6]

U.S. retailers cite 30% of inventory planning errors as demand forecasting issues [115]

Global apparel e-commerce share of apparel sales was 26% in 2023 [116]

China online apparel share of total apparel sales was 24% in 2023 [117]

India online apparel share of total apparel sales was 10% in 2023 [118]

U.S. retailers offered free shipping to 68% of shoppers by 2023 (promotional coverage) [119]

Average rate of markdown as a result of overstock in apparel was 25% in 2023 [120]

Average time to restock returned apparel was 12 days in 2023 [121]

Global apparel warehouse automation adoption was 18% in 2023 [122]

Global apparel production GHG emissions were about 1.2 billion tonnes CO2e per year (2018 estimate) [123]

Textile and clothing consumption increased by 60% globally since 2000 [124]

Global textile waste generation reached 92 million tonnes in 2021 [125]

The U.S. textile recovery rate was 15.2% in 2022 [125]

The U.S. textile reuse and recycling amount was 5.7 million tons in 2018 [125]

The U.S. textile landfill disposal was 10.5 million tons in 2018 [125]

EU requires textile waste sorting for separate collection by 2025 under revised Waste Framework Directive (goal) [126]

EU target for recycled textile fibers: 25% by 2025 (Circular Economy goals) [127]

EU textile strategy target: 90% of textiles collected by 2030 [128]

U.K. Household textile waste recycling rate was 18% in 2022 [129]

France textiles recycling rate was 22% in 2022 [130]

Water use to produce 1 kg of cotton was about 10,000 liters (global average) [131]

Dyeing and finishing can consume about 20% of industrial water pollution [132]

Microfiber shedding contributes significantly to ocean plastic pollution; estimate of fashion microfiber emissions is 500,000 tonnes per year globally (mid-range) [133]

The EU EPR requirement for textiles is part of the new EU Waste Framework Directive [134]

The EU REACH regulation covers restrictions on certain chemicals used in textiles [135]

The EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) regulation applies to chemicals relevant to textile finishing [136]

California passed SB 62 (2020) requiring first-in-time-of-sale labeling for textiles to include fiber content information (implementation) [137]

California SB 1383 sets textile and packaging waste reduction and recycling requirements (landfill ban framework) [138]

UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and textiles is planned for 2024 (policy) [139]

Share of consumers willing to pay more for sustainable products was 66% globally (Meta/IBM survey) [140]

77% of consumers consider social and environmental factors when buying products (global) [141]

55% of consumers said they are concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion [142]

73% of respondents say clothes last shorter due to fast fashion (global survey) [143]

Average number of times clothes are worn globally before disposal is 7 times [144]

Textile sorting increases recycling yields; only 1% is recycled into new clothes globally (common estimate) [145]

In the EU, separate collection rates for textiles are below 50% (policy baseline) [146]

Total plastic microfibers from laundering estimated 0.5 million tonnes annually globally (model) [147]

U.S. EPA estimates textiles account for about 8% of total municipal solid waste by weight [125]

In 2022, EU Member States were required to implement textile waste separate collection (implementation status) [126]