Fur Information Council of America Releases Latest Statistics
US retail fur sales fell 18% in 2007 from a year earlier, according to the latest survey results released by the Fur Information Council of America (FICA). The annual survey covers sales of fur and fur-trimmed apparel and accessories, and services such as storage, cleaning and remodeling, through traditional fur retailers who form FICA’s membership. It does not cover sales through department stores and other outlets.
At $1.34 billion, 2007 marked the second year of declining sales, following a peak of $1.82 billion in 2005.
The decline in 2006 had been attributed to one of the warmest winters in recorded history. But the continued decline in 2007 came in spite of favorable weather conditions through the winter of 2007-08, and instead has been attributed to growing concerns about the state of the economy, and a consequent decline in discretionary spending.
