2019 started without distinct positive signals. Also in February total turnovers and occupation was lower, however clothing showed a slight plus, but on lower forecasts. Also special retailers were presenting growth, but after a series of months of backlashes. The ifo-Index continues to sink, not only for the manufacturing industry, but also for clothing. The stagnating development of the ifo-data for textile is also not an occasion for the hope of a changing trend.
The turnover of German Textiles were decreasing again by 2.1 % in February 2019, after an already weak January, on the other hand clothing showed as in January a slight increase by 0.6 %. Thus decreasing turnover of textiles reached in the first two months -3.2 %, whereas clothing turnovers increased by 1 %, resulting that the two sectors of industry showed a decrease in proceeds of -1.5 %.
Occupation developed in parallel to turnovers: As of February the textile sector showed a decrease of 1.4 % of persons occupied in the sector, clothing showed an increase of employment (+1.8 %). In total for the two sectors resulted a decrease of occupation by 0.4 % as to compare with the same period of 2018.
Local production is decreasing continously since several months, alone in February by additional 1.4 %. The production volume of clothing is more marked fluctuating: In February the production volume increased by 1.9 %.
The order situation is rather contrarian to the actual turnovers of the two sectors
Producer prices increase in total since several months – and after many month of stagnation – however only slightly. This trend was consistent also in February. The increase in the textile sector for the past three months settled at +0.9 %, for clothing +1 %.
Turnover in the specialised retail sector is increasing – after many months of sinking – in February by +4.3 %, but remains below the level of the total German retail sector (+5.3 % in February).
Foreign trade presents all values (Import/Export) in the negative range. As of February textile exports sank by 3.7%, clothing exports showed a backlash of 1.7 %. Textile exports declined -3.8 % and clothing lost 1.4 %.
The import surplus declined in February by 1 %, whereas raw material imports increased in February by 2.2 %.
ifo-Business climate index of April 2019
The business climate trend for the total manufacturing German industry sank continuously also in April 2019. The cooling of the German economic conditions is continuing. Clothing follows the downtrend, whereas textiles are relatively stable, besides the worsening turnover figures. The actual economic figures and forecasts in the framework of ifo-indices are not offering impulses for a turnover.