CALZATURA

FRANCIA

In 2001 the French distributions network has slowed down abruptly. Retail sales, according to recent market research by Insee, increased by just 2,1%, compared to the +3,5% growth of the previous year, and the +4,1% of 1999. This result in the clothing and footwear industries goes against the general trend which saw and increase in sales of 5% against the 2,1% in 2000. Last year the global turnover of French trading exceeded 1.000 billion Euros, 53% of which regarded wholesale business, 32% was made up of retail and small commecial enterprises and the remaining 15% came from car repairs.