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, according to the National Sporting Goods Association’s just-released “Sporting Goods Market in 2008” report. 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 $4.1 billion in 2006.

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.


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.


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