Market Analysis - Australian Clothing Industry

The Australian PMI has been mostly below 50 with an average of 47.98 in past 12 months and an average of 47.94 this year, which suggests a likely contraction in manufacturing. Fluctuation is expected due to its volatile nature but a large percentage change is likely to drive the economy. A 14.03% growth in July is expected to lead to an increase in the coming month but contraction may continue in 2015-2016. From these PMI figures, Australia’s economy might not be performing at its best. The industry might suffer

This has been the result of inflationary pressures due to excessive consumer demand, and a world increase in oil prices, the RBA’s primary objective is to contain inflation at 2-3% whilst also achieving sustainable growth. The current increases in interest rates will result in lower aggregate demand as consumers have less disposable income. This results in reductions in inflationary expectations, and a decrease in the demand for imports. Furthermore higher rates of interest will encourage overseas investment into Australia, thus resulting in an increase in the demand for the Australian dollar. An increase in the demand for the AU$, and a decrease in its supply due to less import expenditure will result in an appreciation of the AU$ in forex markets. Overall this results in depressed economic activity and lower levels of growth. However the RBA has been able to increase interest rates in order to contain inflation while maintaining economic growth. This is because the global economy has continued to grow at record pace, with strong growth in the US and China, and the recovery of Japan and Europe. Consequently demand for Australian exports has remained high, thus creating opportunities for increased production and subsequent economic

The benchmark investment rate in Australia was last recorded at 2.25%. Investment Rate in Australia found the middle value of 5.13 percent from 1990 until 2015, arriving at an unequaled high of 17.50 percent in January of 1990. Inflation Rate in Australia averaged 5.21 percent from 1951 until 2014. Customer costs in Australia rose 1.7% during the time to the December quarter 2014, the slowest yearly pace in more than two years as petrol costs dove. Australian yearly inflation rate abated to 2.3% in the second from last quarter of 2014 from 3.0 % in the past period, determined by a fall in cost of electricity, after the removal of tax duty on carbon discharge beginning early July. An alternate key variable that impacts the business is the unemployment rate. While the unemployment is staying high it is normal that RBA will keep the investment rates and trade rates low. Unemployment Rate in Australia diminished to 6.30% in February of 2015 from 6.40% in January of 2015. Unemployment Rate in Australia found to be in between 6.91% from 1978 until

The global women’s clothing industry is expected to exceed $621 billion in 2014, marking a 12% increase in five years, reports MarketLine. Clothing retailers account for the largest share of the market at almost 65% in terms of value. We will first seek customers locally, but will increase our range as we build our brand and are confident in our image.

Australia has also experienced a rising terms of trade to 130.0 in late 2011 due to the commodities boom as a result of the industrialization of the BRICs, whereby Australia has experienced high export and national income, but has resulted in less competitiveness in other sectors due to the high AUD, causing the ‘Dutch disease’ whereby non-commodity sectors lose competitiveness. Similarly is can be seen in its narrow export base whereby in 2012-13 one third of export revenue came from coal and iron ore ($96 billion from 300 billion), furthermore 57% of Australian export revenue is made up of mineral and energy exports, whereby Australian growth has been largely fuelled by commodity exports and mining boom.

The figure obviously had not return to pre-crisis level. Moreover, recent commodity prices had fallen significantly which will affect Australia’s short and long term economy.

By 2016, Australia assess that mining had raised genuine per capital household extra income by 13%, raised genuine wages by 6% and brought down the unemployment rate by around 1¼ rate focuses. There have additionally been cost. The mining has prompted a huge valuation for the Australian dollar that has weighed on different enterprises presented to exchange, for example, assembling and farming.

The Australian economy expanded 0.5% in the June quarter of 2016, slowing from a downward 1.0% growth in the previous quarter and slightly below market consensus of a 0.6% growth. It was the weakest expansion since the second quarter 2015, weighed down by net trade while investment was flat and final consumption remained steady. Through the year, the economy grew by 3.3%, accelerating from a 3.1% in the March quarter, which is the strongest expansion since the June quarter 2012, bringing the annual growth of 2.9% for the 2015-2016 financial year and going 100 quarters without experiencing a

In addition, Australia’s retail market is seeing a positive growth and has developed

The industry is marked by Low revenue volatility and medium regulation level. Although industry globalisation is a critical stage and poses a major threat. However over the last five year the industry has boomed due to increase in consumer expenditure , after the recovery of Australian economy in 2010 the industry has started to positive upturn. The industry is expected to grow at annualized 3.3% to a total of $771.3 million.

Unemployment: As can be seen in Fig 3 below, the unemployment rate in Australia has recently dropped below 5.8%, which is the lowest it has been for over 20 months. This is despite the economy struggling over the previous 12 months due to a fall in investment in the mining industry. This has led to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reducing interest rates on two occasions in the past 12 months to encourage the non-mining sectors of the economy to fill this void and invest in resources, but some businesses are still reluctant to spend money. NAB economist Tapas Strickland said he expected strong jobs growth to continue into 2016, stating “ The forward indicators, such as jobs ads, suggest employment growth of 2% a year, and when you do the calculations, that implies 20,000 (jobs added) per month”. (Guardian, 2015).

When the price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Over the long term, unanticipated inflation can cause a number of problems for an economy. Businesses will invest less in long-term projects because of the uncertainty of returns, price information becomes unclear, and consumers will spend more time trying to protect themselves from inflation and less time engaging in productive activities. If the Australia’s inflation rate is above normal range, then its cause for concern. It has impact on various ways in the economy.

The exchange rate plays an important role for global expansion. Consequently the exchange rate has a great influence on Lush’s revenues. The British Pound and Australian Dollar (GBPAUD) rate has been particularly strongly of late. Trade between Australia and the UK is highly significant to both countries. Two-way trade currently stands at more than $13.418 billion, making this Australia’s fifth largest trading relationship. Investments between the two countries are $714 billion. The United Kingdom remains the largest single source of inward investment into Australia, at more than $496 billion (DFAT

From 2005 the liberalization textiles and clothing industry, the exports of this industry increased from 480 $ billion to 709 $ billion until 2012. (WTO.2005, 2013) The textiles and clothing industry accounts for a 4 per cent share in global merchandise exports. (The ILO, 2014) Garment industry has particularly characteristics, which selectivity and pertinence at production and market. (Adhikari, R. &Yamamoto, Y. 2007) Garment industry provides a lower investment cost and low skill labor in developed and developing countries. This industry has low barrier entry, so that clothing industry suitable for developing countries. But free trade and low barrier make it possible to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions. Therefore, the clothing industry characterize is high intensity of competition. This industry is the most protected in the global economy of all manufacturing industries, in both developed and developing countries. (Nordås, H. 2004)

In March 2015, Greg Jericho published an article called Weak, weak growth and six things about the state of Australia’s economy that outlined how in the past 6 out of 10 quarters the Australian