Preliminary data from the NSGA “Sporting Goods Market in 2009” 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 versus $42.16 in 2006.
On average, males spent more on athletic footwear than females, $45.16 versus $42.75.
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 18-24 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. They were followed by the 65-and-older age group, whose average price point was $49.54.
“Among the three largest footwear categories by dollar volume, the gym shoes/sneakers category showed the highest increase, up 4.1%,” NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle said. “It was followed by jogging/running shoes, up 2.8%, and walking shoes, up 1.6%.”
The information on
average shoe prices will be included in the NSGA report “The Sporting Goods
Market in 2009,” to be published by the Association in late spring. Based on a
consumer study of 80,000 U.S. households, the report summarizes 2008 retail
sales totals in units and dollars for 22 types of athletic and sports shoes
as well as products in more than 20 sport categories.
