ATHLETIC SHOES SPENDING JUMPS DURING JANUARY-APRIL '96

     Consumer spending for athletic footwear rose 9% during the
first four months of '96, even though consumers purchased 3%
fewer pairs of athletic shoes than in the same period a year
earlier, according to a study sponsored by the SGMA's Athletic
Footwear Association, and conducted by Footwear Market Insights,
Nashville (AFA):
         RETAIL DOLLAR SALES (000,000): January - April
          '93       '94            '95            '96
Men's     $1,343    $1,353         $1,416         $1,634
Women's   $1,325    $1,410         $1,390         $1,514
Chldn's   $  665    $  615         $  554         $  513
TOTAL     $3,333    $3,378         $3,360         $3,661
                PAIRS SOLD (000): January - April
          '93       '94            '95            '96
Men's 31,317    32,842         33,683         36,613
Women's 45,562  48,754         46,888         45,454
Chldn's 33,221  34,183         30,511         25,309
TOTAL     110,100   115,779        111,082        107,376