German-based clothing, sportswear and cosmetics company Hugo Boss Group sales rose by 14% to €712 million in the first six months of 2006 compared with sales of €624 million in the first half of 2005. On a currency-adjusted basis, sales increased by 13%.

In Germany, first half sales increased by 8% to €164 million compared with €152 million in 2005, despite another slight fall in the German fashion market. In the rest of Europe, sales rose by 16% to €327 million from €282 the previous year.

An upward trend was also seen in the USA, where sales in the first half rose 22% in euros (17% in local currency) from €78 million in the same period in 2005 to €96 million.

Boss Womenswear generated sales of €73 million in this period, an increase of 73% compared with €42 million in the prior year period. This was partly attributed to the successful launch of its Orange Womenswear. Net income for the womenswear segment rose to €2.5 million compared with €0.6 million.

Pre-tax earnings rose by 18% to €79 million in the first half from €67 million in the same period in 2005 while net income increased by 19% to €54 million compared with €46 million the previous year.