Gap June Sales Fell, But 'Athleisure' Apparel Gained Popularity

Comparable store sales at the largest U.S. clothing retailer, Gap, unexpectedly dropped in June. Of the stores that were opened for at least one year, orders fell 2%. Retail Metrics, a research firm that follows Gap, expected these stores' sales to increase by nearly 1%. Stores of all ages considered, sales of both Gap's flagship chain and Banana Republic fell 7% in June. Only the more discounted Old Navy had 7% more customer orders, but all three chains did worse than one year ago. Old Navy did better than the rest because of its popular "athleisure" apparel. This line combines athletic and leisure wear. It is essentially workout gear that can be worn outside the gym. It gained popularity among the teenagers. Gap had a slow start in 2014 because of the harsh winter weather. Its shares were down more than 7% over the past year. The retailer hopes to catch up in the second half of this year. CEO Glenn Murphy said, "We remain focused on delivering in the upcoming fall season."