The data on consumer purchases is taken from 'The Sporting Goods Market in 2010,' which has been published by the National Sporting Goods Association for more than 20 years. The basic consistency in methodology provides a sound basis for comparing overall purchase statistics. However, the survey does not cover all products in every category, nor does it make estimates for accessory items. Items that may be designed for leisure activity, rather than for specific sports, are not included. Estimates should be viewed as minimal in each sport category.

Sample 

The survey presents projections of 2009 consumer purchases from a survey of 80,000 households. Most fall/winter sporting goods equipment are based on purchases during the calendar year. Most spring/summer products are based on purchases during the 2008 season (October 2008-September 2009). Projections of 2009 sales were based on 117.2 million households. 

The large panel was divided into five representative samples of 20,000 households each so that a maximum number of individual sporting goods products could be included in the survey. In total, 63 products were included in the study. Replies were received from approximately 62% of the sample. 

The Sport & Athletic Clothing category is taken from a separate study on sports participation done by the National Sporting Goods Association. The study is based on a survey of 10,000 households. Participants were asked to give their dollar expenditure for clothing purchases for each sport. These estimates reflect, for example, "clothing expenditures for golf," not purchases of "golf clothing." 

In the questionnaire for Sport & Athletic Footwear, the person asked to respond was the one "most aware of shoe purchases by all household members." Beginning in 1995, Sport & Athletic Footwear was surveyed twice during the year, each time asking for purchases made during the previous six months. In certain shoe categories, this may have had an impact on the pairage reported. 

Estimates of retail sales are shown for some products which were not included in the survey. These estimates are based on reliable published statistics where available. In other cases reliance was placed on knowledgeable industry sources. 

Information on the sales of snow skiing equipment has been provided by SnowSports Industries America, McLean, Virginia. The SIA Retail Audit tracks consumer ski equipment purchases in specialty ski shops.

Additional Information 

Much more detailed data on consumer purchases is reported in 'The Sporting Goods Market in 2010.' The footwear section includes 28 styles of athletic and sport footwear. For equipment, the report provides consumer purchases for specific products in more than 20 sport categories, including cycling, camping, fitness, fishing, hunting, golf, in-line skating and team. 

Purchaser demographics include annual household income, age and gender of major user, education of household head, and region of the country. A ten-year history of sales allows the analysis of long term trends. Place-of-purchase data allows analysis of industry channels of distribution. The 84-page report is prepared for NSGA by Irwin Broh Research, a research company nationally recognized for its work in the leisure field.