The Monthly Retail Trade Survey, prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, reported sales in sporting goods stores of $2.61 billion (preliminary) for the month of April, up 13.3% from the $2.3 billion in April 2004. The increase follows a 5.0% increase in March. Year-to-date sales are $9.15 billion, up 6.7% from the same period last year.
Total sales for calendar year 2004 were $29.74 billion, up 8.6% versus 2003. Sporting goods store sales for all of 2003 were $27.38 billion, a 3.8% increase versus 2002.
Among the 28 retail categories in the survey, sporting goods stores growth for 2004 ranked in the top third and exceeded the 7.6% growth rate for all retail sales. The overall retail growth represented the strongest increase since 1999s 8.4% gain.
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.
