(Filed Under Financial and General Interest News). According to the NPD Group, Inc., select intimate apparel categories ended 2009 on a positive sales note, despite an overall decline in the U.S. apparel market of 5.1 percent. Men’s underwear tops were up 11 percent, tights up 2.4 percent and bras up 1.1 percent from the previous year.

The market research company also reported that, although women’s apparel posted a 3 percent decline during the fourth quarter of last year, this modest drop is an improvement. “For the fashion industry this is a very important sign,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, the NPD Group, Inc. “Women represent just over 50 percent of total fashion market sales and they account for almost 25 percent more in the purchases they make for others…without them a true recovery will not occur.”

He added that middle-income consumers making $25,000 to $75,000 spent about the same amount in 2009 as they had in the previous year. “To put it in perspective, the total market declined 5 percent while middle income consumers held fast. That means the recovery is beginning to show up in the apparel market for the very critical middle income consumer,” he remarked.

The NPD Group, Inc. is a provider of consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries including fashion, beauty, consumer technology, and entertainment, among others. For further information, contact Beth Boyle by calling (516) 625-4603, or e-mail Beth.Boyle@Npd.com.

more Financial and General Interest News >>

Published 04-06-2010 by Amanda Torres Price