NSGA: Sporting Goods Sales to Be Flat in 2008…

June 9, 2008
SGB Update

Retail sales of sporting goods (footwear, clothing and equipment) are expected be flat in 2008 as modest declines in sporting equipment and athletic apparel offset a meager gain in athletic footwear, according to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). For 2008, sporting goods sales are forecast to reach $53.4 billion, about even with $53.5 billion generated in 2007.


Sports equipment is expected to see a 2% decline to $24.5 billion. Dragging that category down is expected to be a 3% decline in Camping to $1.41 billion; and a 3% decline in Billiards & Indoor Games to $527 million. Among other larger categories, declines are expected in Fishing Tackle, down 2% to $2.2 billion; Hunting & Firearms, off 1% to $3.73 billion; Exercise, down 1% to $5.4 billion; and Golf, down 1% to $3.77 billion.


Among smaller categories, major drops were projected in Racquetball and Water Skis, both down 5%; and Basketball Equipment, off 4%. Two percent declines are expected in Bowling, Football, Hockey/Ice Skates, Optics, Scuba Gear and Snow Skis. Only Soccer Balls and Tennis are expected to show gains.


Total Athletic & Sport Clothing revenues are expected to decline 1% to $10.77 billion. Projected declining sub-categories included Aerobic Exercising, down 9% to $651 million; Bicycling, off 4% to $601 million; Fishing, tumbling 12% to $637 million; Camping, dropping 4% to $1.66 billion, and Softball, 19% to $195 million. Gains are expected in Exercise/Walking, up 6% to $1.48 billion; Running/Jogging, 5% to $950 million, Swimming, 3% to $1.54 billion; and Golf, 2% to $1.52 billion. Soccer and Tennis apparel are also expected to grow.


Total Athletic and Sport Footwear sales are projected to rise 2% to $17.72 billion. Among larger categories, gains are expected from Walking Shoes, rising 3% to  $4.32 billion; Fashion Sneakers, 3% to $982 million; Gym Shoes/Sneakers, 2% to $2.75 billion; Jogging/Running Shoes, 2% to $2.24 billion; Cross Training Shoes, 2% to $1.62 billion; and Sport Sandals, 2% to $644 million. Hiking Shoes/Boots are expected to be virtually flat at $1.075 billion.


Also seeing gains on a smaller scale are Wrestling, up 5%; Track, Cycling, Tennis and Bowling, all up 4%; and Football, up 3%.


The only footwear sub-categories projected to see declines in 2008 are Basketball Shoes, down 1% to $887 million; and Cheerleading, down 7% to $59 million.

NSGA: Sporting Goods Sales to Be Flat in 2008

June 4, 2008
SGB Update

Retail sales of sporting goods (footwear, clothing and equipment), which reached a record $53.5 billion in 2007, are expected be flat in 2008, according to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). For 2008, sporting goods sales are forecast to reach $53.4 billion.


In 2007, athletic and sport footwear hit a record $17.4 billion, a 2.7% increase. Clothing showed a 2.4% increase, to $10.8 billion. Equipment, which accounted for $25.3 billion in sales, showed a 3.1% gain.


Among equipment categories with sales of more than $1 billion in 2007, hunting & firearms showed the greatest percentage increase. Sales of hunting & firearms equipment rose 7% to $4.0 billion.


The greatest percentage growth in this category came from air guns, which showed a 15% increase to $283.7 million. In the larger volume products, rifles ($879.8 million) increased 10%, shotguns ($699.2 million), 7%, and ammunition sales rose 6% to $1 billion.


Exercise equipment remained the largest individual equipment category surveyed by NSGA. Sales of exercise equipment increased 5% to $5.5 billion. Motorized treadmills continue to dominate this category, with $3.0 billion in sales, an increase of 2%. Elliptical cross trainers ($462.1 million) showed the greatest percentage growth, 27%.


In 2006, golf and camping were the growth leaders, 6% for each. In 2007, golf showed a 4% increase to $3.8 billion, while camping equipment sales declined 5% to $1.45 billion.


Optics and fishing, other categories with more than $1 billion in sales, also showed sales increases in 2007. Optics showed a 3% increase to nearly $1.1 billion, while fishing tackle sales increased 1% to nearly $2.3 billion.


Five of the 24 equipment categories surveyed by the Association last year showed declines. In addition to camping, racquetball (-12%), basketball (-10%), billiards and indoor games (-5%), and football (-1%) failed to register a sales increase in 2007.


Sales of recreational transport equipment (bicycles, pleasure boats and motors, recreational vehicles and snowmobiles) declined to $37.2 billion in 2007 (-3.4%). Sales of recreational transport products in 2008 are forecast to decline 9%. The recreational transport category had risen dramatically in recent years, but high fuel prices are expected to have a continued dampening effect on RV and boating sales this year.


“The Sporting Goods Market in 2008” is a copyrighted NSGA consumer study that projects 2007 purchases of sporting goods products based on a survey of 100,000 U.S. households. National Family Opinion, Inc. (NFO) maintains the consumer panel used in the survey, which 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.


The report comes in both printed and electronic formats.


 

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