770 Arts, Recreation, and Travel

U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012

Table 1250. Sporting Goods Sales by Product Category: 1990 to 2009, and 

Projection, 2010

[In millions of dollars (50,725 represents $50,725,000,000), except percent. Based on a sample survey of consumer purchases 

of 80,000 households, (100,000 beginning 2000), except recreational transport, which was provided by industry associations. 

Excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Minus sign (–) indicates decrease]

 Selected product category 1990 2000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2010, 

proj.

 Sales, all products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50,725 74,442 85,811 88,434 90,472 91,423 80,431 70,856 75,66

 Annual percent change 1. . . . . . . . . . .  (NA) 4.6 7.6 3.1 2

 Percent of retail sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (NA) 2.5

Athletic and sport clothing. . . . . . . . . . . . .  10,130 11,030 11,201 10,898 10,580

Athletic and sport footwear 2. . . . . . . . . . .  11,654 13,026 14,752 15,719 16,910 17,52

 Aerobic shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Basketball shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Cross training shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  679 1,528 1,327 1,4

 Golf shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Gym shoes, sneakers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2,536 1,871 2,221 2,314

 Jogging and running shoes. . . . . . . . . . .  1,110 1,638 1,989 2,157 2,260 2

 Tennis shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Walking shoes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2,950 3,317

Athletic and sport equipment 2. . . . . . . . . .  14,439 21,608 23,328 23,735 24,497 25,061 

 Archery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Baseball and softball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  217

 Billiards and indoor games. . . . . . . . . . .  192 516 622 5

 Camping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,0

 Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

 Fishing tackle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,910 2,0

 Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Hunting and firearms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2,202 2,274 3,175 3,5

 Optics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Skin diving and scuba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  294 3

 Snow skiing 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 Tennis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Recreational transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14,502 28,779 36,531 38,082 38

 Bicycles and supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2,423 5,131 4,898 5,343

 Pleasure boats, motors, accessories. . . .  7,644 13,224 16,054 17,634 17,907 17,473 13,679 9,09

 Recreational vehicles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4,113 9,529 14,753 14,366 1

 Snowmobiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NA Not available. 1 Represents change from immediate prior year. 2 Includes other products not shown separately. 3 Data 

through 2004 categorized as “Skiing Downhill.”

Source: National Sporting Goods Association, Mt. Prospect, IL, The Sporting Goods Market in 2010 and prior issues,

(copyright). See <http://www.nsga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3345>.

Table 1251. Consumer Purchases of Sporting Goods by Consumer 

Characteristics: 2009

[In percent. Based on sample survey of consumer purchases of 100,000 households. Excludes Alaska and Hawaii]

Characteristic

Total

Footwear Equipment

Aerobic 

shoes

Fitness 

shoes

Gym 

shoes/

sneakers

Jogging/

running 

shoes

Walking 

shoes

Multi 

purpose 

home 

gyms

Rod/

reel 

combination

Golf 

club 

sets Rifles

Soccer 

balls

 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 10

Age of user:

 Under 14 years old. . . . . . . . .  18.7 7.2 10.0 44.7 9.4 5.5 

 14 to 17 years old. . . . . . . . . .  5.6 4.5 2.6 7.9 6.4 2.9 

 18 to 24 years old. . . . . . . . . .  9.8 5.0 4.8 5.0 6.0 2.2

 25 to 34 years old. . . . . . . . . .  13.4 22.0 30.2 10.3 25.9 8.5 50.8

 35 to 44 years old. . . . . . . . . .  14.0 14.3 15.4 11.3 24.0 13.0 17.

 45 to 64 years old. . . . . . . . . .  25.7 35.4 32.7 15.7 24.5 45.6 27.

 65 years old and over. . . . . . .  12.8 11.6 4.3 5.1 3.8 22.3 1.1 6.

 Multiple ages. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex of user:

 Male. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49.3 26.6 37

 Female. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50.7 73.4 62.9 4

 Household use. . . . . . . . . . . . .  – –

Annual household income:

 Under $15,000. . . . . . . . . . . . .  11.4 7.5 3.6 6.8

 $15,000 to $24,999. . . . . . . . .  12.2 11.2 6.5 7.6 4.7 8.5 4

 $25,000 to $34,999. . . . . . . . .  12.3 11.9 8.1 9.4 8.0 11.5 13.

 $35,000 to $49,999. . . . . . . . .  14.9 12.4 16.5 15.3 14.1 15.8 17.9

 $50,000 to $74,999. . . . . . . . .  18.4 16.3 21.2 21.5 19.5 19.8 27.8 1

 $75,000 to $99,999. . . . . . . . .  14.9 15.8 19.3 16.8 19.5 16.9 15.1 1

 $100,000 and over. . . . . . . . . .  15.9 24.9 24.8 22.6 31.0 19.3 20.4

Education of household head:

Less than high school. . . . . . . .  5.9 2.6 2.7 3.7 1.5 6.1 2

High school. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22.4 19.7 13.7 22.3

Some college. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36.0 28.2 40.0 32.7 30.9

College graduate. . . . . . . . . . . .  35.7 49.5 43.6 41.3 58.1 37.2 

– Represents or rounds to zero. 

Source: National Sporting Goods Association, Mt. Prospect, IL, The Sporting Goods Market in 2010, (copyright).

See <http://www.nsga.org.public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=869\>.