'07 Sporting Goods Sales Up 3.0%; Sports Apparel Market Up 2.4%

In '07, total manufacturers' sales (in wholesale dollars) for the sporting goods and fitness industry in the U.S. grew at an annual rate of 3%. While down from higher growth rates in '05 (6.8%) and '06 (5.8%), the sporting goods industry has continued its streak of outperforming GDP for non-durable goods, which was 2.2% -- according to the U.S. government in '07. The sporting goods industry also saw stability in the sports apparel, fitness equipment and team sports markets. The following chart lists a breakdown of the sports apparel market for '07, according to U.S. wholesale value of annual manufacturers' shipments, with comparisons to '06 (SGMA).