The sporting goods segment generated a 1.8% sales gain in May to $6,906 million on an unadjusted basis, and 4.2% increase for the first five months of 2013 to $33,939 million. Clothing and accessory store sales were 3.8% higher in May on an adjusted basis at $20,784 million. May U.S. retail sales grew 4.3% to $421.1 billion, according to monthly data released by the U.S. Dept. Commerce.
Meanwhile, total U.S. outdoor product sales fell 1.7% to $828.9 million for the four weeks ended June 1, according to the monthly OIA VantagePoint report. Sales of hardgoods rose 3.3% during the period to $441.3 million on momentum in camping equipment, although tents and shelters lagged. Bicycles and other cycling products posted a slight sales decline in May.
May sales of outdoor apparel declined 3.3% to $162.8 million on declines in activewear, sportswear, bottoms, socks, and undergarments. Outerwear and raingear recorded small sales increases. Outdoor footwear sales slid 9.2% last month to $224.4 million with outdoor sandals continuing to lose ground. Conversely, technical hiking and outdoor trail shoe sales were up single digits. By channel, national accounts/Internet represented 8.1% of all May outdoor product sales versus 5.2% in the year-ago month. Discount/mass retailers accounted for 4.3% of all outdoor sales, up from 3.1% in May 2012.
Written by Nicolas Yang
