Preliminary data from the NSGA “Sporting Goods Market in 2009” report puts the average price point for athletic footwear in 2008 at $43.71, a 1.6% increase from 2007. In 2007, the average price had risen 2.1% to $43.03.
By age group, the 18- to 24-year-olds were the big spenders, doling out $57.31 for a pair of shoes. Next were the 14- to 17-year-olds, who paid an average price of $51.89. Also above the $50 price point were the 25- to 34-year-olds, who paid $50.54; and the 65-and-older group, who paid $50.41. Among males, the 18 to 24-year-old age group produced the highest average price point, $62.78. The 18-24 year old age group also accounted for the highest average price point among females, $52.36.
“Among the three largest footwear categories by dollar volume, the gym shoes/sneakers category showed the highest increase, up 4.1%,” said Tom Doyle, NSGA VP of Information & Research. “It was followed by jogging/running shoes, up 2.8%, and walking shoes, up 1.6%.”
