Sales in specialist retail chains fell by 2.3% in July 2025, according to the Federation for the Promotion of Specialised Trade (Procos). The decline was driven by a 4.6% drop in foot traffic, coupled with reduced consumer spending amid ongoing purchasing power pressures.
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Procos noted that this marks a second consecutive year of sharp summer declines, following a 2.5% drop in July 2024. The downturn has affected nearly all sectors, with clothing sales down 3.5%, home equipment down 1.5%, and catering down 2.5%. The sports sector suffered the steepest fall, with an 8.5% decline, attributed to the fading impact of the 2024 Olympic Games which had boosted sales last summer.
Only a few segments bucked the trend, including the gifts, culture and toys sector, which saw an 8.5% rise due to strong performance from certain toy brands, and the optical and services segment, which also reported growth.
From January to July 2025, cumulative sales in specialist retail stores slipped by 0.5% compared to the same period last year. Procos stated that a full assessment of summer retail performance will require August data, factoring in tourism trends, heatwaves and the ongoing squeeze on household budgets.
Source: www.meuble-info.fr
