Many sectors within the retail industry were negatively impacted by the recession. But as conditions begin to slowly and steadily improve, consumers are gaining more confidence about the future of the economy. This includes luxury shopping, as these retailers have reported better-than-expected numbers over the past few months.

According to The Chicago Tribune, fears about the current European economic crisis and fluctuations in the stock market did little to keep customers away from purchasing designer merchandise. Retailers such as Michael Kors and Saks Inc. have experienced strong sales throughout the year, and executives stated they did not have to markdown as many prices as anticipated. Many luxury stores are also making plans for expansion, as customers continue to buy designer items and accessories, states the news source.

This news comes along with the recent report from the Department of Commerce that retail sales throughout the country experienced an increase in July. The Wall Street Journal writes that there was a rise of 0.8 percent throughout the month. This follows three straight months of decline, including a decrease of 0.7 percent in June. Many sectors were impacted by the positive retail sales, including consumer electronics, clothing and ecommerce.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 1:58 am .