The Monthly Retail Trade Survey, prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, reported sales in sporting goods stores of $2.33 billion (preliminary) for the most recent reporting month (November), up 7.4% from the $2.12 billion in November 2003. The increase follows a 9.1% increase in October.
Year-to-date sales through November were $25.05 billion, up 7.9% from the first 11 months of 2003. Sporting goods store sales for all of 2003 were $26.82 billion, a 1.5% decline versus 2002.
The estimated annual sales for sporting goods stores in the U.S. Census Bureau Monthly Retail Trade is consistent with sporting goods sales reported in the NSGA study “The Sporting Goods Market.” The U.S. Census Bureau estimates are based on data from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey, Annual Retail Trade Survey, and administrative records and have been adjusted using results of the most recent economic census.
