LVMH faces pressure from China's tax crackdown as US spending falters
Summary
China's recent tax crackdown on wealthy individuals is placing additional pressure on luxury brands, already affected by a slowdown in US consumer spending. Under new regulations, wealthy Chinese individuals using offshore trusts must declare and pay back taxes by October 22, threatening luxury spending in a critical market where Chinese consumers account for about a fifth of global purchases. Amid this backdrop, smaller "quiet luxury" brands like Brunello Cuccinelli are outperforming more prominent names such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci in mainland China, as consumers increasingly gravitate towards products perceived to hold enduring value, such as high-end jewelry. These challenges compound the ongoing struggles of the $350 billion luxury sector, which has been experiencing a three-year slowdown in growth.