Solid Growth in US Jewelry Sales in April

Total sales of fine jewelry and fine watches in the US market rose by a strong 5.4 percent in April 2016 when compared to April 2015, according to preliminary data from the US Department of Commerce. This gain was slightly above sales increases posted earlier this year.

Fine jewelry sales rose by an estimated 5.3 percent in April, while fine watch sales rose by a more robust 6.4 percent.

Preliminary April sales gains for specialty jewelers show that they are continuing to lose market share to other merchants – mostly multi-line retailers – who sell jewelry. Specialty jewelers, who generate a majority of their business from jewelry sales, posted a sales gain of 3.6 percent, below both February and March sales increases for their retail category, and below overall jewelry industry gains. 

Other retailers who sell jewelry – mostly multi-line merchants such as Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, and others – posted a very strong 6.6 percent gain in sales during April.

Our outlook calls for more moderate sales increases in the next few months, primarily because comparisons are much more difficult against last year’s strong growth.

Total Jewelry Sales Up 5.4 Percent in April

Total sales of fine jewelry and fine watches in the US market in April were an estimated $5.9 billion, according to the latest preliminary data from the Department of Commerce. April sales were somewhat above the typical level of monthly jewelry sales – $5 billion or so – in the US market.