According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association in its 2013 Tracking the Fitness Movement report, 2012 fitness equipment sales in both the consumer and commercial markets grew – 3.5 percent for Home Use (to $3.56 billion) and 8.5 percent for Commercial Use (to $1.14 billion), respectively. These gains were achieved after several years of decreasing or flat sales in both categories during a troubled economy.

Last year, consumer sales finally exceeded the sales level in 2007 and commercial sales came close to doing so. In total, they exceeded 2007, if only slightly.

In the home use-category, sales were mixed with some equipment categories slightly off, others flat and some seeing healthy increases. Free Weights and Stair Climbing Machines saw the highest jumps – 6.8 percent (to $172 mm) and 6.0 percent ($22 mm) respectively, though both categories still fell short of 2007 sales. Exercise Benches ($368 mm), Ab Machines ($208 mm) and Elliptical Machines ($884) all rose by 5.0 percent.  Elliptical was the only category that has seen substantial gains over the last five years, up 15.9 percent since 2007. Both Exercise Benches and Ab Machines remain below 2007 levels.

Exercise Cycles ($368 mm) and Home Gyms ($190 mm) saw the biggest drop, at minus 2.5 percent and minus 2.0 percent, respectively, for 2012. Sales for these two categories also remained below 2007. Rowing machines ($35 mm) and Aero Gliders ($23 mm) were flat in 2012 while Ski Machines ($35 mm) increased 1.5 percent.

Looking at participation data, home exercisers were most likely to be female (53.0 percent). Among age groups, the most active gym goers were 45-54, 19.4 percent; 55-64, 16.5 percent; 35-44, 15.4 percent; 25-34, 14.8 percent; 65+, 14.6 percent; 18-24, 9.4 percent; 13-17, 5.2 percent; 6-12, 4.8 percent.

In regards to household income, the two most active were $25,000 to $49,000, 25.2 percent, and $100,000, 23.9 percent. As for the income discrepancy, women at the lower income level may be using inexpensive DVDs, apps or online programs, while the women in the higher income category may have invested in high quality home exercise equipment and entertainment systems. SFIA said in the report, “For the women in this category, long hours in stressful jobs may preclude them from making it to the gym. They may be forced, or choose to, workout at home whenever they have the time.”

The full report is not yet available.