Supply Chain Research

U.S. apparel sales inched up 0.7% on a year earlier in September according to Census Bureau reports, yet apparel imports fell 7% in September and August. This may suggest U.S.-based apparel manufacturers are doing better. There is some evidence for this in artificial fabric imports, shipments of which increased 13% in September after a 4% drop in August by weight. However, a continued decline of artificial yarn imports of 8% in September suggests U.S. fabric makers have been losing out to overseas competitors.