NSGA Sees 2.0% Industry Growth in 2004

Retail sales of sporting goods, which reached $45.8 billion in 2003, are expected to grow 2% in 2004, according to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). For 2004, sales of athletic and sports equipment, shoes and clothing are forecast to reach $46.6 billion.

In 2003, athletic and sport clothing showed a 2% decline. Footwear was able to offset that decline with a small 2% gain as it had the previous year. Equipment was flat. Total sales of athletic and sports clothing were $9.6 billion in 2003, versus $9.8 billion in 2002. Total footwear sales reached $14.4 billion in 2003 versus $14.1 billion the previous year. Sales of sports equipment were $21.8 billion in 2003 versus $21.7 billion in 2002.

Sales of all sporting goods (clothing, footwear and equipment) were virtually unchanged in 2003 versus 2002, $45.8 billion versus $45.6.

“In equipment categories with sales of more than $1 billion, an 8% rise in exercise equipment sales ($4.7 billion) was offset by a 7% decline in golf equipment sales ($3.0 billion),” said NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle. “A 2% increase in hunting equipment sales was offset by a 2% decline in fishing tackle sales. Sales in these major categories were $2.5 billion and $2.0 billion respectively.

“As was the case last year, wheeled sports, which include scooters, were the biggest losers, with sales down 10% to $440 million,” Doyle said.

The data is reported in “The Sporting Goods Market in 2004,” a copyrighted NSGA consumer study that projects 2003 purchases of sporting goods products based on a survey of 100,000 U.S. households. National Family Opinion, Inc. maintains the consumer panel used in the survey. It 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.

Sales of Sporting Goods
(in billions)
						Change
	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	’03 vs. ’02	2004*

Equipment	$20.3	$21.6	$21.6	$21.7	$21.8	--	$22.2

Footwear	$12.6	$13.0	$13.8	$14.1	$14.4	+2%	$14.7

Clothing	$10.3	$11.0	$10.2	$9.8	$9.6	-2%	$9.7

Sub-Total	$43.2	$45.7	$45.6	$45.6	$45.8	--	$46.6


*2004 numbers are forecasts.
SOURCE: National Sporting Goods Association, Mount Prospect, Illinois