Fashion
LEI for UK declines by 0.3% in August 2025: Conference Board
However, the Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the United Kingdom increased by 0.2 per cent in August 2025 to 108.3 (2016=100), after also no change in July. Overall, the CEI for the UK grew by 0.8 per cent over the six-month period from February to August 2025, on par with the 0.8 per cent increase observed over the previous six-month period between August 2024 and February 2025, The Conference Board said in a press release.
“The UK LEI remained on a downward trend and continued to decline in August,” said Timothy Brennan, economic research associate at The Conference Board. “As in previous months, the weakness came primarily from soft consumer sentiment, lower housing sale expectations, and a rise in unemployment claimants, which more than offset gains from financial components, operating surplus, and productivity. The 6-month growth rate of the UK LEI stayed above the recession threshold, and the warning signal was not triggered either. Still, the LEI reading indicates that economic growth in the United Kingdom will be sluggish through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. The Bank of England cut the bank rate for the third time this year in August 2025, a move that could help ease economic headwinds. The Conference Board expects UK GDP to grow by 1.3 per cent in 2025 and in 2026.”
The UK Leading Economic Index fell 0.3 per cent in August 2025, signalling continued weakness due to poor consumer sentiment and rising unemployment claims.
Despite this, the Coincident Index rose 0.2 per cent, reflecting modest current growth.
The LEI’s six-month decline suggests sluggish economic prospects through 2026, though not recessionary.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Fashion
OVS brings Italian fashion to Mumbai retail scene
This opening will mark OVS’ second store in India, following its flagship debut in New Delhi in October 2025, and underscores the brand’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.
OVS will launch its first Mumbai store on March 14 at Sky City Mall, Borivali, expanding its India presence after debuting in New Delhi in October 2025.
The 11,000 sq ft outlet will feature womenswear, menswear and kidswear, including premium labels such as PIOMBO and Les Copains.
The move reflects strong early performance and OVS’ long-term growth plans in India.
Spanning approximately 11,000 sq. ft., the Mumbai store will introduce customers to OVS’ latest global retail concept, designed to deliver a modern and seamless shopping experience. Reflecting Mumbai’s diverse fashion sensibilities, where style ranges from everyday comfort to trend-forward dressing, the store offers a versatile mix across womenswear, menswear and kidswear, making Italian style affordable to all. The assortment spans accessible everyday fashion from OVS alongside premium and contemporary collections, including PIOMBO, Les Copains, B.Angel, Altavia, and OVS Kids, designed to meet the style needs of a wide spectrum of consumers.
Sharing his thoughts on the Mumbai launch, Sundeep Chugh, Managing Director at OVS India, said: “The response to our New Delhi launch has been highly positive and has validated our belief that Indian consumers are seeking global fashion that delivers both style and value. Mumbai is a natural next step for us, given its strong fashion consciousness and retail maturity. Our vision is to establish OVS as a trusted destination for the entire family, offering a distinctive Italian aesthetic at democratic price points while maintaining high standards of quality and sustainability.”
Carmine Di Virgilio, Global Chief Retail Officer at OVS S.p.A, added: “India represents an important growth market in our international strategy and Mumbai is among the country’s most influential retail destinations. This opening will allow us to further strengthen our global footprint while introducing consumers to a retail experience that reflects our heritage, the contemporary Italian design philosophy and commitment to responsible fashion. We are very satisfied with our Delhi debut and the enthusiastic response from a wide range of customers, particularly younger generations. At the same time, we are actively evaluating additional expansion opportunities across the Indian market to support our long term growth strategy.”
Globally, OVS operates over 2,200 stores across multiple markets and has built a strong position in accessible, everyday fashion by combining Italian design excellence with quality materials and affordable pricing. Sustainability remains central to the brand’s approach, with responsible sourcing, recyclable materials, water-efficient processes and transparency.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Fashion
Care Ratings projects India’s FY27 GDP growth at 7.2%
India’s GDP growth for Q3 FY26 was 7.8 per cent, following high growth of 8.4 per cent in Q2, as per the revised GDP series.
Care Ratings recently projected India’s FY27 GDP growth at 7.2 per cent.
Favourable impact of the GST rate rationalisation and past central bank rate cuts are expected to remain supportive of the consumption scenario, it noted.
On the investment front, the central government’s continued emphasis on capital expenditure-led growth and some signs of revival in private capex are positives.
Favourable impact of the goods and services tax (GST) rate rationalisation and past central bank rate cuts are expected to remain supportive of the consumption scenario.
On the investment front, the central government’s continued emphasis on capital expenditure-led growth and some signs of revival in private capex are positives.
On the external front, the recently announced trade deals with several countries are favourable developments for India’s export performance, Care Ratings said in a release.
However, the external economic conditions remain volatile. It will be critical to monitor the evolving geopolitical situation and trade policy shifts.
Furthermore, the rise in probability of El Nino in 2026 remains a key watchout as it poses risks for agriculture and inflation outlook.
According to the second advance estimate, the full-year growth for FY26 has been revised higher to 7.6 per cent from the earlier estimate of 7.4 per cent. This follows high growth of 7.1 per cent in FY25.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
Mexico’s apparel imports down 9% on weak consumer demand
Data from *fashion.com/market-intelligence/texpro-textile-and-apparel/” target=”_blank”>sourcing intelligence platform TexPro showed that trousers and shorts led the import basket at $*.*** billion, accounting for **.** per cent of total shipments. T-shirts followed at $***.*** million (**.** per cent), while jerseys, shirts and coats contributed $***.*** million (**.** per cent), $***.*** million (**.** per cent) and $***.*** million (*.** per cent) respectively. The composition highlights Mexico’s strong demand for everyday and casual wear categories, which dominate mass retail assortments.
By product construction, knitwear maintained a clear lead at $*.*** billion, representing **.** per cent of imports, compared with woven garments at $*.*** billion (**.** per cent). The preference for knitted apparel aligns with global trends favouring comfort-driven, athleisure-inspired and casual lifestyles, particularly in urban markets.
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