Fall Spending

An IBM analytics-based study forecasted that the August through October shopping period will be spectacular for clothing and footwear sales. The study predicted sales of children's apparel to rise 11.1% rise to $2.659 billion, men's apparel up 5.5% to $1.930 billion, footwear up 3.2% to $7.066 billion, and women's apparel up 3.1% to $9.211 billion. Adults are apparently holding back on purchasing for themselves during their back-to-school shopping for the kids. But once the kids are in school, the grown-ups will be looking to treat themselves. Specialty apparel retailers, especially those that cater to teens and young adults, are widely expected to lose sales to discounters and department stores this year, as shoppers look for bargains and deals, noted the study.