1305 ET - The children's apparel market isn't bouncing back anytime soon, Carter's Interim CEO Richard Westenberger says on a call with analysts. Overall, the company's performance has been more challenging in the past few years since emerging from the pandemic, Westenberger says. Carter's sales, particularly the U.S. retail business, are being hit by a declining birth rate among Americans and a shift of consumer shopping behavior in favor of mass channel retailers. In addition, high inflation has had a significant impact on Carter's target market of families with young children, the executive says. On average, since 2019, the young children's apparel market has grown less than 1%, Westenberger says. Carter's tumbles 16%. (sabela.ojea@wsj.com; @sabelaojeaguix)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 25, 2025 13:05 ET (18:05 GMT)

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