Deep discounts on apparel, especially at Old Navy

Sales at U.S. apparel and accessory retailers have largely flatlined. Over the 12-months through July they averaged month-over-month growth of just 0.2%, according to Census Bureau data.

This week, Victoria’s Secret, Urban OutfittersKohl’s told analysts in conference calls that shoppers are only buying certain types of garments. The companies gave no specific examples but a search of the Victoria’s Secret website showed Victoria’s Secret shoppers buying bras on sale at two-for-$52, while its PINK line for younger shoppers appeared to have trouble moving a $52.95 pair of joggers.

Urban Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret said sales are declining for brands tailored to younger consumers. Victoria’s Secret’s PINK line saw strained clothing sales compared to the company’s Victoria brand of intimates and sleepwear.

“We will be very prudent on our purchases” of apparel “for the back half of the year,” Victoria’s Secret Chief Executive Martin Waters said during the company’s earnings call Thursday.

Urban Outfitters’s young, less-affluent shoppers held off from purchasing full-priced items and waited “for promotions before buying,” Urban’s CEO Richard Hayne

Kohl’s said sales slipped for junior’s apparel in the second quarter because designs were “too much fashion, not enough of the basics.” Women’s apparel outperformed other categories.

“Some of the fashion choices were a little too young, I would say. That’s been course-corrected,” Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass said on a Tuesday earnings call. “I’d say one of the things that has hurt us is with all (the) supply chain disruption that’s happened, we were not able to get in and out of some of those items.”

Walmart and Target both struggled to sell apparel that arrived a few seasons late, and are aggressively cutting prices. Target said last week that one bright spot was “meaningful growth” in sales of trendy women’s clothing.

Jessica Ramírez, senior research analyst at Jane Hali and Associates, said she has noticed heavy discounts on Gap and Old Navy labels, while the higher-end Banana Republic

Macy’s and Kohl’s said demand was solid for dressy-looks and work-ready clothing. Kohl’s said women’s and men’s “elevated casual” styles outperformed as more people returned to work. It has been investing in dressy styles from brands including Simply Vera, Lauren Conrad and Nine West

Macy’s CEO Jeffrey Gennette said on the company’s earnings call on Tuesday that occasion-based clothing in men’s and women’s are “very healthy categories” with men’s work clothing average selling prices increasing 29% and “missy career” items up 20%. Other categories have required heavy promotions to unload excess inventory.