Clothing and footwear retailers reported a 3.5% increase in turnover in the first six months of the year, with 58% of participants reporting improved results over the comparative period for 2013, according to the Deloitte EMCS Retail Review.

The review reflects the feedback from 91 retail outlets across Malta and Gozo, with a combined estimated turnover in excess of €34 million.

The survey results show that all regions surveyed, except Birkirkara, reported an increase in turnover and that in all regions, except Birkirkara and St Julians, the majority of operators reported increased turnover. 

EMCS Director Stefano Mallia said it was significant that most main shopping  localities reported positive trends and that the regional growth would appear to be driven by absolute growth rather than displacement of business from other localities.

“It is encouraging to see that after a number of years in decline, for the second year running, retailers have continued to rebound and have registered positive growth,” he said.

Deloitte principal David Bonett  pointed out that the survey results indicated that outlets operating within malls increased turnover at a marginally faster pace than high street outlets, smaller outlets registered higher growth rates than their  larger competitors and although the majority of own brand outlets registered declining trends the category as a whole registered growth after two successive periods of decline.