Stagnant Consumer Sentiment and Sluggish Apparel Demand
First written in FY2017-Q1. 19 of 37 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2017-Q2. Latest entry: FY2027-H1.
Naigai moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2016, 3 years before the typical company in this theme (2019).
1 other company's latest entry also says "Worsened".
- FY2027-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, rising prices, particularly for necessities, have further strengthened consumers' preference for frugality and selective purchasing based on price. In addition, the effects of temperature fluctuations have continued to make it difficult to determine the timing of seasonal merchandise launches and sales trends, requiring the rapid and flexible development of products and sales initiatives in response to changing consumer needs.」
The disclosure states that rising prices further strengthened consumers' preference for frugality and selective purchasing based on price, while temperature fluctuations continued to make decisions regarding seasonal merchandise sales difficult. - FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' strong preference for frugality persisted as price increases continued for an extended period, while inbound demand was limited to some central urban areas, showing signs of slowing in the near term. In addition, weather factors such as a dry rainy season and extreme heat delayed the start of spring and summer apparel sales, further increasing uncertainty in the demand environment.」
Consumers' preference for frugality due to rising prices, the regional concentration of inbound demand, and the slower start to spring and summer apparel sales caused by a dry rainy season and extreme heat combined to further increase uncertainty in apparel demand. - FY2025-H1RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, benefits including growth in inbound consumption were seen in some regions and sales channels. However, personal consumption was expected to weaken because of higher raw-material and energy prices and rising prices caused by the weaker yen.」
Some improvement from growth in inbound consumption coexisted with concerns about weaker personal consumption due to higher raw-material and energy prices, the weaker yen, and higher prices, maintaining the previous assessment of the demand environment. - FY2025-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, although concerns remained about the effects of higher prices caused by the weaker yen and climate change on personal consumption, the overall recovery trend continued, helped by factors including growth in inbound consumption.」
Although concerns remained about higher prices caused by the weaker yen and climate change's impact on personal consumption, the apparel industry was generally described as being on a recovery trend, supported by growth in inbound consumption, reflecting an improving assessment of the demand environment. - FY2024-Q3Recovery in market conditions coexisting with weak consumer demandAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, market conditions remained on a recovery trend as customer traffic to commercial facilities increased. However, consumer demand for apparel remained weak because rising prices heightened consumers' efforts to protect household finances.」
While the disclosure cites increased customer traffic to commercial facilities and a recovery trend in market conditions, it describes consumer demand for apparel as weak because rising prices heightened efforts to protect household finances, indicating the continued coexistence of demand recovery and frugality. - FY2024-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, the recovery trend in market conditions was maintained as customer traffic to commercial facilities increased. However, consumer sentiment toward apparel remained weak because rising living costs strengthened consumers' preference for frugality.」
A recovery in market conditions driven by increased customer traffic to commercial facilities coexisted with stronger frugality due to higher living costs and weak consumer sentiment toward apparel, maintaining the previous assessment of the demand environment. - FY2023Demand recovery coexisting with weaker consumer sentiment due to rising pricesAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, although some signs of recovery in personal consumption were seen, negative factors affecting the operating environment continued to weigh on the business, including weaker consumer sentiment caused by rising prices, higher raw-material costs, and the weaker yen, as new risks emerged, and the challenging environment continued.」
While acknowledging some recovery in personal consumption, the disclosure explicitly identifies the challenging environment caused by weaker consumer sentiment due to rising prices, higher raw-material costs, and the weaker yen. - FY2023-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「The apparel industry also performed strongly, as autumn and winter items gained full momentum because of the reaction to operating restrictions under the previous year's priority preventive measures and the effects of falling temperatures and stronger demand for going out and travel.」
The reaction to operating restrictions, falling temperatures, and stronger demand for going out and travel supported strong sales of autumn and winter items, improving the apparel demand environment from the period through the previous quarter. - FY2023-Q2SoftenedAnnual report
「The apparel industry also continued to recover in-store sales as the reaction to the previous year's operating restrictions and increased opportunities to go out supported demand. However, consumer sentiment toward apparel did not fully recover because rising prices for food and other goods heightened consumers' preference for frugality, resulting in a gradual recovery.」
In-store sales entered a recovery trend because of increased opportunities to go out and the reaction to operating restrictions. However, consumer sentiment toward apparel did not fully recover amid heightened frugality caused by price increases, and the recovery was gradual. - FY2023-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「The apparel industry also continued to face challenging conditions, as the trend of refraining from going out had not completely subsided and consumer sentiment toward apparel remained weak amid concerns about the outlook and other factors.」
The trend of refraining from going out and weak consumer sentiment continued, and the challenging environment surrounding apparel demand remained. - FY2022RestatedAnnual report
「The apparel industry also continued to face a challenging environment, as declining customer traffic resulting from shortened business hours and requests to refrain from going out persisted over an extended period.」
The prolonged decline in customer traffic caused by shortened business hours and requests to refrain from going out continued, as did the challenging environment for apparel demand. - FY2022-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, the decline in customer traffic resulting from prolonged requests to refrain from going out and restrictions on business activities continued, and the challenging environment persisted. Although a recovery was expected after the state of emergency was lifted in October, consumption remained sluggish amid lingering concerns about a resurgence of infections.」
The disclosure states that declining customer traffic due to requests to refrain from going out and restrictions on business activities persisted over an extended period, and that consumption remained sluggish even after the state of emergency was lifted, indicating continued weakness in apparel demand. - FY2022-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, customer traffic declined because of prolonged requests to refrain from going out and requests for large commercial facilities to voluntarily restrict operations to limit the flow of people, and the challenging environment continued.」
The disclosure explicitly identifies stagnant consumer sentiment caused by requests to refrain from going out and declining customer traffic resulting from requests for large commercial facilities to voluntarily restrict operations as factors behind weak apparel demand. - FY2022-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「The apparel industry continued to face challenging conditions, as the state of emergency declared in April once again led to requests for large commercial facilities to suspend operations or shorten their business hours.」
Large commercial facilities were again asked to suspend operations or shorten their business hours, and the challenging environment surrounding apparel demand continued. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「The apparel industry also continued to face challenging conditions, as the government's declaration of a state of emergency led to temporary closures and shortened hours at department stores and commercial facilities, as well as restrictions on consumption activity resulting from requests to refrain from going out to prevent infections. Various customer-attraction events were repeatedly cancelled, while the sharp decline in inbound demand caused by global travel restrictions compounded the situation, leaving consumption demand subdued.」
Closures and shortened hours at commercial facilities, requests to refrain from going out, event cancellations, and the sharp decline in inbound demand caused by travel restrictions combined to keep apparel demand depressed throughout the fiscal year. - FY2021-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, customer traffic to stores, particularly suburban stores, was beginning to recover despite persistent concerns about COVID-19 infections. However, consumers' preference for frugality in apparel continued because of changes in purchasing preferences resulting from requests to refrain from going out, and the environment remained extremely challenging.」
While concerns about infection and consumers' preference for frugality continued and the environment was described as extremely challenging, customer traffic was beginning to recover, particularly at suburban stores, indicating some improvement from the previous quarter. - FY2021-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「The apparel industry faced an extremely challenging environment because commercial facilities and other establishments suspended operations or shortened their business hours in response to COVID-19, while restrictions on consumer behavior, including requests to refrain from going out, were imposed.」
The disclosure states that suspended or shortened operations at commercial facilities and restrictions on consumer behavior caused by requests to refrain from going out put the apparel industry in an extremely challenging environment. - FY2021-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, in addition to sluggish winter-sale sales caused by an unusually warm winter, sales fell sharply because commercial facilities voluntarily suspended operations in response to the spread of COVID-19 and personal consumption declined rapidly.」
In addition to weak winter-sale sales caused by an unusually warm winter, voluntary suspension of commercial-facility operations and the sharp decline in personal consumption resulted in a substantial decrease in apparel sales. - FY2020WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' strong preference for lower prices and greater frugality remained entrenched. In addition, sales of seasonal merchandise were sluggish because of the successive closures of large commercial facilities and continuing abnormal weather, including typhoons and an unusually warm winter, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
In addition to consumers' preference for lower prices and greater frugality, the disclosure cites closures of large commercial facilities and sluggish seasonal merchandise sales caused by typhoons and an unusually warm winter, showing that the causes and impact of weak demand had broadened. - FY2020-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' purchasing behavior continued to diversify, while the consumption tax increase further strengthened consumers' preference for frugality, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
In addition to increasingly diverse consumer purchasing behavior, the disclosure notes that the consumption tax increase further strengthened consumers' preference for frugality, intensifying the challenging demand environment. - FY2020-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' purchasing behavior continued to diversify, while sales of midsummer items remained sluggish because of insufficient sunshine during the prolonged rainy season and the effects of cool, wet weather, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
In addition to increasingly diverse consumer purchasing behavior, the disclosure cites sluggish sales of midsummer items caused by the prolonged rainy season, insufficient sunshine, and cool, wet weather, specifying the challenging demand environment. - FY2020-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' purchasing behavior continued to diversify, while sales of spring and early-summer merchandise remained sluggish because of low temperatures and unstable weather, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
In addition to increasingly diverse consumer purchasing behavior, the disclosure cites sluggish sales of spring and early-summer merchandise caused by low temperatures and unstable weather, indicating that the challenging demand environment continued. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' strong preference for lower prices and greater frugality in apparel remained entrenched. In addition, seasonal merchandise sales were sluggish because of the effects of record heat and an unusually warm winter, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
The disclosure specifies sluggish seasonal merchandise sales caused by consumers' preference for lower prices and greater frugality, as well as record heat and an unusually warm winter, highlighting the challenging demand environment. - FY2019-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, autumn and winter merchandise showed signs of gaining traction as temperatures fell. However, consumers' strong preference for frugality in apparel remained, while repeated natural disasters, including typhoons and earthquakes, were negative factors, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
While autumn and winter merchandise showed signs of gaining traction, consumers' preference for frugality and natural disasters were negative factors, and the challenging environment for apparel demand continued. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, seasonal demand strengthened as temperatures rose. However, consumers' strong preference for frugality in apparel remained, while the successive days of extreme heat after the end of the rainy season and the repeated approach and landfall of typhoons were negative factors, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
While seasonal demand strengthened, consumers' preference for frugality and the extreme heat and typhoons were negative factors, and the challenging demand environment continued. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, weather conditions were favorable and spring merchandise performed strongly. However, consumers' strong preference for frugality in apparel remained, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
While weather conditions and spring merchandise were positive factors, consumers' preference for frugality remained strong, and the apparel industry overall continued to face a challenging environment. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, seasonal demand gained momentum throughout the year and seasonal merchandise performed steadily. However, consumers' strong preference for lower prices and greater frugality in apparel remained, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
While seasonal demand and seasonal merchandise performed steadily, consumers' strong preference for lower prices and greater frugality remained, and the challenging industry environment continued. - FY2018-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, at department stores, spending on high-priced goods by affluent consumers and inbound demand remained strong against the backdrop of a weaker yen and higher stock prices. Seasonal demand gained momentum as temperatures fell, and late-summer and early-autumn merchandise performed steadily, indicating a recovery trend, particularly at stores in central urban areas.」
Steady spending by affluent consumers, inbound demand, and seasonal merchandise indicated a recovery trend in apparel demand, particularly at stores in central urban areas, improving from the challenging demand environment through the previous quarter. - FY2018-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, high-priced spending by affluent consumers and inbound demand remained strong amid a weaker yen and higher stock prices, and some signs of a bottoming out were seen in major metropolitan areas as warmer temperatures supported sales of summer merchandise. However, consumers' strong preference for frugality in apparel remained, and the challenging environment continued.」
While some improvement and signs of a bottoming out were seen in spending by affluent consumers, inbound demand, and summer merchandise, consumers' preference for frugality remained strong and the challenging environment continued. - FY2018-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' strong preference for frugality in apparel remained entrenched. Department-store apparel sales fell below the previous year's level for 18 consecutive months from November 2015, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
Consumers' strong preference for frugality remained entrenched, and the disclosure quantifies the continued and prolonged weakness in demand by noting that department-store apparel sales fell below the previous year's level for 18 consecutive months. - FY2017WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, consumers' preference for lower prices and greater frugality continued amid lifestyle changes and prolonged weakness in consumer sentiment. In addition, spending on high-priced goods by inbound tourists and affluent consumers, which had previously driven sales, lost momentum, and the overall challenging environment continued.」
The disclosure states that weak consumer sentiment and preferences for lower prices and greater frugality continued, while spending on high-priced goods by inbound tourists and affluent consumers, which had previously driven sales, lost momentum. - FY2017-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, in addition to heightened consumer efforts to protect household finances amid uncertainty in Japan and overseas and weak stock prices, seasonal merchandise sales were sluggish because of the approach and landfall of successive typhoons and the lingering summer heat. Sales declined, particularly through department stores, and the challenging environment continued.」
The disclosure cites heightened efforts to protect household finances, sluggish seasonal merchandise sales due to typhoons and the lingering summer heat, and declining sales through department stores, specifying the causes and impact of weak demand. - FY2017-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「The apparel industry had shown signs of improvement, including strong spending on high-priced goods by inbound tourists and affluent consumers. However, amid growing uncertainty about the outlook, consumers' renewed preference for lower prices and greater frugality led to declines in same-store sales, particularly through department stores, and the challenging environment continued.」
The renewed preference for lower prices and greater frugality is explicitly noted, along with declining same-store sales, particularly through department stores, indicating the specific impact of weak demand. - FY2017-Q1First statedAnnual report
「In the apparel industry, in addition to concerns about a further consumption tax increase, consumer sentiment stagnated amid the stronger yen and falling stock prices. Consumers became markedly more inclined to refrain from spending on items other than necessities, and the challenging environment continued.」
The disclosure cites concerns about a consumption tax increase, stagnant consumer sentiment due to the stronger yen and falling stock prices, and restrained spending on non-essential goods.