Price deflation continues to be a concern within various apparel industry segments and women’s sportswear is no exception. The reasons are many and varied and include the flood of very low-priced imports, particularly from China; fierce competition from discounters and greater market efficiency. Retail prices for women’s apparel fell a seasonally adjusted 0.8 percent in February against January, according to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index. Compared with February 2003, women’s apparel prices fell 2.2 percent, a continuation of the long-term deflationary price pressures to which retailers have become accustomed. In 2003, the average unit price of women’s sportswear was $18.71, down 3.8 percent when compared with 2002. Nearly all categories of women’s sportswear sold more sale units in 2003 than in 2002. The situation will become worse before it gets better. As of Jan. 1, when nations of the World Trade Organization drop their quotas on textiles and apparel, the price of imported garments is expected to drop significantly — by an average of 15 percent, according to economists and apparel executives.
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KNIT SHIRTS
Percent change: -5.5
Average price in 2003: $11.94
Average price in 2002: $12.63Percent sold on sale in 2003: 68
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 62
Percent change: 5.4 -
CASUAL PANTS
Percent change: -4.3
Average price in 2003: $19.09
Average price in 2002: $19.94Percent sold on sale in 2003: 65
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 62
Percent change: 3.2 -
WOVEN SHIRTS
Percent change: -4
Average price in 2003: $16.13
Average price in 2002: $16.80Percent sold on sale in 2003: 65
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 60
Percent change: 5.5 -
JEANS
Percent change: -3.6
Average price in 2003: $22.51
Average price in 2002: $23.35Percent sold on sale in 2003: 61
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 58
Percent change: 3.1 -
SWEATERS
Percent change: -2.8
Average price in 2003: $21.70
Average price in 2002: $22.33Percent sold on sale in 2003: 72
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 69
Percent change: 2.3 -
SKIRTS
Percent change: -2.7
Average price in 2003: $21.58
Average price in 2002: $22.19Percent sold on sale in 2003: 64
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 62
Percent change: 2.7 -
SHORTS
Percent change: -2.7
Average price in 2003: $13.12
Average price in 2002: $13.49Percent sold on sale in 2003: 67
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 60
Percent change: 6.9 -
DRESS PANTS
Percent change: -2.3
Average price in 2003: $24.72
Average price in 2002: $25.29Percent sold on sale in 2003: 64
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 61
Percent change: 3.2 -
ATHLETICWEAR
Percent change: -2.2
Average price in 2003: $19.53
Average price in 2002: $19.96Percent sold on sale in 2003: 63
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 61
Percent change: 2.7 -
DRESSES
Percent change: 0.8
Average price in 2003: $37.93
Average price in 2002: $37.64Percent sold on sale in 2003: 64
Percent sold on sale in 2002: 64
Percent change: 0
SOURCE: STS MARKET RESEARCH, A LEADING PROVIDER OF CONSUMER APPAREL INFORMATION AND BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS, BASED IN CAMBRIDGE, MASS.; SURVEY IS BASED UPON ACCUPANEL, A REPRESENTATIVE PANEL COMPOSED OF 12,000 MEN AND WOMEN AGES 13 AND OLDER WHO REPORT EACH MONTH ON THEIR CASUAL SPORTSWEAR PREFERENCES. * INDICATES A TIE.