How much does a wardrobe "weigh" in the family budget? Albanians spend 445 million euros a year on clothing
Clothing is no longer just a seasonal necessity. It has become a consumer category that reflects lifestyle, the influence of trends, and the purchasing power of families. Household Budget Survey data show that spending on “Clothing and Footwear” has gone through a cycle of decline and recovery over the past decade.
From 2014 to 2018, the share of this group in the family budget fell from 5.1% to 4.2%. This period coincides with a more cautious orientation of consumption, where priority seems to have been given to basic categories. However, after 2019, a turning point is observed. The share of spending on clothing returns to above 5% and remains relatively stable even in the years after the pandemic.
According to data for the last year, “Clothing and footwear” accounts for 5.1% of total monthly consumption expenditures. With an average monthly consumption of 93,042 lek per family, it turns out that about 4,745 lek per month goes to this category.
In annual terms, this translates to approximately 57 thousand lek per family.
Considering 755,950 households in the country, it turns out that Albanians spend around 3.6 billion lek each month on clothing and shoes. Annually, this amount amounts to around 43 billion lek.
This places this category among the most important non-food consumption items, reflecting not only the basic need for clothing, but also the influence of fashion, expanded market supply, and seasonal shopping cycles.
What is included in this category?
According to INSTAT's methodology, this item includes clothing for men, women, children and babies, whether ready-made or made to order, in all materials, for daily, sports or work use.
Included are overcoats, jackets, trousers, suits, dresses, blouses, underwear, socks, nightwear, sports suits, as well as clothing for babies and children.
However, the figure of around 4,745 lek per month per family is a statistical average. In practice, the expenditure structure varies significantly from one family to another.
There are families who limit their clothing purchases to basic seasonal needs, keeping this item at a minimum in the budget. On the other hand, there is a consumer segment oriented towards well-known brands and higher-priced products.
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