Back-to-School Surprises

Chief Industry Analyst Marshal Cohen

“Everyone said this would be the year of skinny jeans – and some consumers are buying them, but they’re not taking off as expected quite yet. Instead, fashion footwear is the story to watch at back-to-school time this year. As early as August, we saw 11% growth over the same period last year, and it continues to climb! Another story that may characterize this year’s back-to-school season is the apparent slow-down of ‘urban style,’ with retailers reporting lighter-than-expected sales of hats, athletic footwear, and urban-inspired apparel.”