(openPR) - MOUNT PROSPECT, IL – In spite of a 14% surge in shooting sports equipment sales, U.S. retail sales of sporting goods (footwear, clothing and equipment), which slipped 1% in 2008, fell 3% in 2009 to $53.4 billion, according to the soon to be released NSGA report "The Sporting Goods Market in 2010." For 2009, sporting goods sales reached $50.7 billion and are forecast to rise 2% to $51.5 billion for 2010.

”Had it not been for the strong shooting sports equipment sales, the declines in 2009 and 2008 would have been sharper,” NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle said. “Minus shooting sports equipment sales, we would be looking at decline of 4.5% and 3.8% respectively.” In the past 25 years, the only previous decline in sporting goods sales was in 2001. That decline was less than 0.1%.”

Athletic and sports equipment, which accounted for $24.36 billion in sales, showed a 2% decline. The Association is forecasting a 1% increase in equipment sales for 2010.

In 2009, athletic and sport footwear slipped to $17.07 billion, a 0.7% decrease. The Association is forecasting a 1% increase in footwear sales for 2010.

Athletic and sport clothing showed a 8.5% decrease, to $9.25 billion. The Association is forecasting a 5% increase in clothing sales for 2010.

Among equipment categories with sales of more than $1 billion in 2009, hunting & firearms showed the greatest percentage increase. Sales of hunting & firearms equipment rose 14% to $5.2 billion from $4.5 billion in 2008.

By only a few million dollars, exercise equipment remained the largest individual equipment category surveyed by NSGA. Sales of exercise equipment decreased 2% to $5.2 billion.

Among other equipment categories with sales of more than $1 billion, only sports optics and camping showed increases. Sports optics rose 4%, to $1.07 billion. Camping equipment sales grew 2%, from $1.46 billion in 2008 to $1.5 billion in 2009.

In other $1 billion-plus sales categories, golf equipment and fishing tackle experienced double-digit declines. Golf equipment sales fell 19% to $2.84 billion. Fishing tackle fell 10% to $1.9 billion.

Fifteen of the 24 equipment categories surveyed by the Association last year showed declines. The balance (except for hunting and firearms) showed modest (2 to 8%) increases.

"The Sporting Goods Market in 2010" is a copyrighted NSGA consumer study that projects 2009 purchases of sporting goods products based on a survey of 100,000 U.S. households. National Family Opinion, Inc. (NFO) maintains the consumer panel used in the survey, which is balanced to parallel actual American household distribution as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Census, so that the data can be projected nationally.

The report comes in both print and electronic formats.

"The Sporting Goods Market in 2010" is available for $295 for retailer/dealer members of the Association and free to manufacturer and sustaining members. For non-members, the cost is $340. For additional information, contact Dan Kasen, NSGA, 1601 Feehanville Drive, Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035. Phone: (847) 296-6742, E-mail: dkasen@nsga.org. or fax: (847) 391-9827.

About NSGA:
NSGA, which has served the sporting goods industry since 1929, supports its members' efforts to be more profitable and advocates on their behalf. It also organizes and hosts the annual NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit, the sporting goods industry’s premier educational and networking event (Next: May 1-4, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz.).

For more information on NSGA member services, visit the Association home page (www.nsga.org); call Darlene Plunkett at NSGA, (847) 296-6742, Ext. 131; e-mail: dplunkett@nsga.org; or fax (847) 391-9827.

National Sporting Goods Association
1601 Feehanville Drive, #300
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Ph: 1-847-296-6742
Contact: Larry Weindruch, Director of Communications