With 5.51%, the price increase in shoes was less strong in the past year than in the previous year (+7.21%). The HDSL chairwoman Carl-August Seibel said at a press conference on February 3 in Düsseldorf: “Shoes have not become more expensive for many years. We have moved very price -stable and now an adaptation is simply necessary, especially in stores. ”The trade law is rightly about increased costs on the one hand and too low increase in sales on the other. “Price increases are needed,” said Seibel, so that the trade remains able to act.
At the producer level, the price increase was slightly lower than 2023 (+1.43%) at 0.79%. “This is not much, but of course pressure can be felt here,” said Seibel.
On the one hand, the trade wants price increases, but is concerned about the commitment of consumers. Rolf Pangels, General Manager of the BTE, said in Düsseldorf: “The consumer mood is currently in the basement.” It must be taken into account that people have less money at their disposal. It is saved more often and people did not take every price increase. “I can understand that prices are raised, but we really have to be careful not to span the bow.” You can argue that 5% are not much, but nevertheless must take into account the changed consumer behavior. Because: “People are still going on vacation and the tourism industry is booming. We also have to reflect on a bit. Then we may not do everything right as we believe that we can and want to do it. ”You have to arouse more desire, more joy in the product. Politics are always liked to be shown, “but we also have to get into the slippers as an industry,” said Pangels.
