People shop for clothes at a Costco store in Monterey Park, California on November 22, 2022.
Frederick J. Brown | Afp | Getty Images
Prices are rising across the fashion industry, with jackets and outerwear seeing the largest year-over-year increases, according to a new report from consultancy AlixPartners released Wednesday.
The company analyzed price increases between 2024 and 2025 in nine categories, from swimwear to dresses. Prices in all categories tracked increased by an average of $17 year-over-year.
Jackets and outerwear saw the largest increase, averaging 24% higher prices, while swimwear saw the smallest increase, averaging 2%.
As the United States begins to cool off and winter approaches, consumers looking for new coats and jackets could spend a lot more at the checkout — if they choose to buy. One factor weighing on this category is a late start to the decline, which typically leads to weak demand for outerwear. In addition to higher prices, retailers that bet big on outerwear during the fall and winter months could have a harder time selling their products, which could lead to inventory issues in the spring, said Sonia Lapinsky, head of the global fashion practice at AlixPartners and author of the report.
“[Retailers] have a normal discount cadence that means at the end of November, beginning of December, you’re already starting to put these products on sale, at a discount, and the consumer may not even have thought about it at that point,” Lapinsky said.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions with retailers about how their seasons are going overall, and some have made the decision to push certain products further because fall is starting to feel more like late summer,” she added. “Not everyone has been as responsive. So it’s absolutely concerning if they haven’t made adjustments.”
Here’s how much prices have increased in the fashion industry by category.