NPD Releases Global Sports Market Estimate (Business Wire)

Friday July 25, 9:00 am ET Sport-Inspired Trends Score in 2007! PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Worldwide sales of sports equipment, apparel, and footwear increased a healthy 4% to $278.4 Billion USD (€ 185.6 Billion*) in 2007 according to a new report from leading market research company The NPD Group, Inc. U.S. share of the market decreased from 40% to 36% mostly due to weakness in the dollar. Conversely, Europe increased its market share based on the strength of the Euro and in spite of slow sales growth in Europe (+2%). The fastest growing markets were: South Asia & Central Asia (+13%), Middle East (+16%), and Central and Eastern Europe (+20%). “This increase is being driven by wealth,” said NPD’s Renaud Vaschalde, who authored the report, “Sales are increasing in those countries where the level of economic... [read full story]