The Germans hold their money together. This is not a surprise, but still the most important factor when it comes to evaluating the financial development of the shoe industry. In the industry report shoes 2025, which the IFH Cologne and the BBE Handelsberatung published in early June, consumer retention is also the dominant topic. Above all, however, the money that people in Germany have is tend to be spent less often for clothing and shoes. In 2000, 5.5% of private consumption expenses flowed into the fashion industry, in 2024 it was only 3.6%. For 2029, the researchers predict a share of consumer expenditure of 3.2%.
This also affects the absolute editions of shoes in Germany. In 2024, the market volume of the shoe industry was EUR 9.5 billion by EUR 0.9% lower than in the previous year (EUR 9.6 billion). The Vor-Corona-Peak (2019: 9.9 billion euros) remains unmatched. For 2025, too, market observers predict only a minimal plus of 0.2% and a market volume of EUR 9.56 billion. It remains to be seen whether the 10 billion euro mark will be cracked in the near future. In the long -term forecasts by 2029, growth between 0.5% and 1.7% is assumed. This corresponds to a market volume between EUR 9.8 billion and EUR 10.4 billion. Whether Germany finds a way out of the years of the crisis mood and where people will buy their shoes in the future, Schuhkurier talks to IFH Cologne-Senior Consultant and co-study author Hansjürgen Heinick.
