1236 ET - Sales growth across apparel retailers appeared to cool in December from a hot, deal-driven November, William Blair analysts say in a note, citing credit card and traffic data. Still, growth remained healthy, they say, noting early reads on Christmas sales have been positive, supported by colder weather. Several companies have also noted accelerating comparable sales in recent months, likely driven by unit and traffic-led demand rather than inflation, which has remained muted in apparel despite initial concerns, they say. In December, retailers like Abercrombie and Torrid appeared to offer more deals than the prior year, while others, like Boot Barn and Duluth Trading, seemed to maintain a similar level, they add. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 02, 2026 12:36 ET (17:36 GMT)

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