August Sees 8% Boost in Fashion Sales, Maintaining Upward Trend

US fashion, immune to tariffs. In the eighth month of the year, retail fashion sales figures in the United States have closed with a new record rise so far this year, immune to the tariff pressure that is marking the U.S. economy. According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Commerce, fashion retail sales reached $28.255 billion at the end of August.

The figure represents an absolute variation of $1.993 billion, or 7.59% more than in August of a year ago, in the series without correcting for seasonal and calendar effects. This increase also follows the already good performance of retail sales in the country last month, which closed with an increase of 7.3%. With the revised figures on the table, the statistical office has raised this increase even further, to 8.6%.

Although more modestly, fashion has also raised its turnover on a month-on-month basis. From July, when turnover in the fashion retail sector reached $26.686 million to August, fashion sales have risen by 5.9%. In absolute terms, the increase has been $1.56 billion.

Fashion sales in the United States posted their strongest annual growth ever

The successive increases put the year-to-date figures in positive territory compared to the first eight months of 2024. Specifically, from January to August of this year, fashion retail sales have reached $197.63 billion, 4.8% more than a year ago.

At the end of the eighth month of the year, total retail sales in the country increased by 3.5% to $745.48 billion, $25.230 billion in absolute terms.

Year-to-date, and despite the tariff policies imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the country’s retail turnover is almost 4% higher than 2024. Between January and August 2025, retail sales have reached $5.69 trillion.