IBISWorld Platform
Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.
Clothing Retailing in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
Clothing retailing revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 5.2%. Clothing retailers have faced a challenging period. Online shopping continues to fuel high return rates, averaging 30%, straining logistics and denting retailers’ returns Rising wage costs are also squeezing margins profit, with April 2025’s National Living Wage hike adding £7 billion in extra costs across the UK retail sector, according to the British Retail Consortium. Consumer confidence remains fragile, dampening growth forecasts and driving intense promotional activity in the key winter period. UK clothing retailers are transforming their operations amid shifting economic, social and geopolitical pressures. Many are accelerating nearshoring to protect supply chains, cut lead times and strengthen quality oversight, while reducing transport emissions. Geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions are driving this shift, though higher production costs and post-Brexit trade rules have created additional challenges.
Access this data your way
The Clothing Retailing in the UK Industry analysis is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.
API Data Delivery
Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.
Integrations
Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.
What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released November 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code G47.710. Clothing retailers source clothing from wholesalers or manufacturers and sell them to consumers. Most clothing retailers sell goods from one or more retail stores and often operate an online portal. Accessory sales are also covered. Related terms covered in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include radio-frequency identification, bricks-and-mortar store, company voluntary arrangement, buy now pay later (bnpl), nearshoring, stock in trade, factory gate prices and de minimis import threshold.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include Women's clothing, Men's clothing and Children's and infants' clothing.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include Next Group plc, Primark Stores Ltd and ITX UK Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Trusted by industry professionals
More than 6,000 businesses use IBISWorld to shape local and global economies
We were able to supplement our reports with IBISWorld’s information from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. All of our reporting now features some level of IBISWorld integration.
IBISWorld delivers the crisp business knowledge we need to drive our business. Whether it be serving up our major clients, winning new business or educating on industry issues, IBISWorld brings real value.
IBISWorld has revolutionised business information — which has proved commercially invaluable to exporters, investors and public policy professionals in Australia and overseas.
When you’re able to speak to clients and be knowledgeable about what they do and the state that they operate in, they’re going to trust you a lot more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is £50.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 10,231 businesses in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom are Next Group plc, Primark Stores Ltd and ITX UK Ltd
What does the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Women's clothing and Men's clothing are part of the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom is Next Group plc.
How competitive is the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Clothing Retailing industry in the United Kingdom.
Cut through the noise with intelligence you can trust
