China’s tax crackdown piles pressure on luxury brands as US spending falters
Summer shopping mall data in mainland China point to “a sharp deceleration in growth”, according to analysts
As China intensifies its tax crackdown on wealthy individuals, luxury brands are facing mounting pressure, on top of the challenges posed by the Iran war and faltering US consumer spending. This tax measure, which requires wealthy Chinese to declare and pay back taxes, threatens to dampen spending in a key market for the luxury industry.
Shares of luxury conglomerates like LVMH and Hermes have plummeted, and industry experts warn that the sector's three-year slowdown may persist. Chinese consumers, who represent a fifth of global luxury purchases, have shown a sharp decline in demand, particularly since the pandemic. With a 20% tax levy, some wealthy individuals may face liquidity issues, dampening overall spending.
While certain "quiet luxury" labels are outperforming more conspicuous brands, the overall picture remains gloomy as signs of weakening demand emerge in both China and the US.
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Companies & Markets's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
