Inditex Sales Accelerate Despite Tough Market Backdrop

By Andrea Figueras

Zara owner Inditex said sales growth picked up last month despite a difficult market environment for apparel companies as the war in the Middle East pushes up raw-material and shipping costs.

The Spanish fashion giant, which also houses labels such as Massimo Dutti and Bershka, said Wednesday that sales rose 11.5% on a constant-currency basis from May 1 through June 1 compared with the prior-year period. This growth marked an acceleration from the 8.8% sales increase it booked for its first quarter through April 30 to a total of 8.75 billion euros ($10.18 billion). Analysts had expected 8.72 billion euros, according to a poll of estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

Apparel retailers are grappling with the impact of higher costs caused by the war in the Persian Gulf, along with worsened consumer sentiment.

"All expense lines have been tightly controlled and show a favorable evolution," the company said.

Net profit jumped to 1.38 billion euros from 1.31 billion euros in the quarter a year earlier.

For the year through January 2027, Inditex continues to anticipate a stable gross margin, plus or minus half a percentage point.

Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 03, 2026 02:14 ET (06:14 GMT)