Fashion sales in Germany fell 1.9 per cent in July 2019, compared to the previous month. Germany is the biggest fashion market in Europe but the country is expected to enter a recession in the third quarter of the year. Fashion sales in the United Kingdom, the second biggest European fashion market, have been on the rise for two consecutive months. Retail in the country was up 2.9 per cent in July. However, the rise was more moderate than in June, when the rise was 3.2 per cent. But like the German economy, the British economy is shrinking. During the second quarter of 2019, the GNP of the country dropped 0.2 per cent, due in part to the fear of a possible exit from the European Union without a deal. France is where fashion sales are showing the worst performance. For April, sales in the sector shrunk 6.7 per cent, being the biggest drop in the last seven months. France is the third biggest fashion market in the continent.

Fashion consumption in Europe has slowed down. Apparel, footwear and accessories market have weakened in the past few months and at the same time the ghost of recession is again haunting Europe.