Hugo Boss verified the 42% decline in its second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, a fortnight after the German fashion house revised its annual projections downward and disclosed preliminary figures, as economic and geopolitical challenges diminish global consumer demand.
The luxury industry is contending with diminished sales and
margin pressures as inflation-impacted consumers reduce expenditures on
designer apparel. A property downturn and employment uncertainty in China have
intensified the situation.
"The weakening consumer sentiment in most markets led
to a rapid slowdown in growth across the entire industry, which we could not
completely escape from," CEO Daniel Grieder said in a statement.
Hugo Boss reported a significant decline in its financial
performance for the second quarter. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)
fell from 121 million euros in the previous year to 70 million euros,
representing a substantial decrease.
Similarly, the company’s quarterly net income experienced a
notable decline of 50% year-over-year, dropping to 39 million euros.
These results highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the
luxury sector, as evidenced by similar underperformance reported by industry
peers such as LVMH and Kering.