U.S. Athletic Footwear Sales Reach $17.4 Billion in 2007

May 27, 2008 - PRLog -- MOUNT PROSPECT, IL – Data from the National Sporting Goods Association’s just-released “Sporting Goods Market in 2008” report shows retail sales of athletic footwear have surpassed the $17 billion mark for the first time, reaching $17.4 billion, an increase of 2.7% versus 2006, when sales were $16.9 billion.

Once again, the largest category of athletic and sport footwear was walking shoes, which reached $4.2 billion in 2007, an increase of 3% over 2006, when consumers spent nearly $4.1 billion on walking shoes.

Among footwear categories near or in excess of $1 billion, gym shoes/sneakers showed the largest increase, 11% to $2.7 billion, up from $2.4 billion in 2007. Fashion sneakers, a separate category, rose 8% to $958 million. Running/jogging shoes slipped 3% to $2.2 billion.  Purchases of cross training shoes ($1.6 billion) showed a 5% increase, and hiking shoes/boots ($1.1 billion) were up 4%.

“The 2.7% increase in sales of sport and athletic footwear is the smallest increase since 2003 and 2004, which both showed 2.1% sales increases,” said NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle. “In 2005, sales rose 6.6%, and in 2006, sales showed a 7.6% increase.”

Of the 26 types of athletic and sport footwear surveyed, the largest sales increases came in smaller categories. Track shoes rose 20% to $50.4 million. Cycling shoes showed a 19% rise, to $63.2 million, and cheerleading shoes were up 18% to $63.6 million.

Among the larger volume categories, significant increases came in sport sandals, up 7% to $631.4 million; and golf shoes, up 5% to $243.7 million. Eighteen of the 26 categories showed increased sales in 2007.

This information is contained in NSGA’s annual study that provides an overview of the sporting goods market. The total U.S. market for athletic equipment, footwear and clothing reached $53.5 billion in 2007, an increase of 2.8% versus the 2006 total of $52.0 billion.

“The Sporting Goods Market in 2008” is a copyrighted NSGA consumer study that projects 2007 purchases of sporting goods products based on a survey of 100,000 U.S. households. National Family Opinion, Inc. (NFO) maintains the consumer panel used in the survey, which is balanced to parallel actual American household distribution as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Census, so that the data can be projected nationally.

The report comes in both printed and electronic formats.

“The Sporting Goods Market in 2008” is available for $290 for retailer/dealer members of the Association and free to manufacturer and sustaining members. For non-members, the cost is $340. For additional information, contact Thomas B. Doyle, NSGA, 1601 Feehanville Drive, Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035. Phone: (847) 296-6742, E-mail: info@nsga.org, or fax: (847) 391-9827.


Sales of Athletic Footwear 1997-2008
(in millions)

2008*--$17,715
2007--$17,366
2006--$16,910
2005--$15,719
2004--$14,752
2003--$14,445
2002--$14,144
2001--$13,814
2000--$13,026
1999--$12,546
1998--$13,068
1997--$13,319

*Projected

Source: National Sporting Goods Association

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About NSGA:
NSGA, which has served the sporting goods industry since 1929, organizes and hosts the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit, the sporting goods industry’s premier educational and networking event (Next: May 3-6, 2009, at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas).

For more information on NSGA member services, visit the Association home page (www.nsga.org); call Rhonda Onuszko at NSGA, (847) 296-6742, Ext. 131; e-mail: ronuszko@nsga.org.