The turnover of German textile and clothing sector for the first five months grew by 0.9 per cent. In all there were 0.6 per cent more people employed in the sectors than in the same period of 2016.

Effective working hours in May increased in textiles by 9.4 per cent and in clothing by 5.1 per cent. Domestic production of textiles improved in May by 4.1 per cent. However, the clothing sector decreased its production by 2.3 per cent as against 2016. Orders for textile segment increased end of May by 15.9 per cent as against 2016. The increase in orders for the clothing segment was 1.8 per cent. Producer prices were practically stable in both segments. As of May prices in the textile sector were up 0.4 per cent, in clothing 0.2 per cent.

Turnover of clothiers increased by 23.3 per cent. As of May turnover at specialist retailers sank by 0.3 per cent. This is in contrast to German retailers who registered a plus of 3.6 per cent. Foreign trade increased in May for the sectors, particularly in the clothing sector by 13.5 per cent whereas in textiles it resulted only a plus of 1.4 per cent, meaning a plus for both segments of 8.3 per cent. The clothing sector was able to increase considerably its deliveries to Switzerland.