NPD Studies Sports
Sporting goods, including apparel, footwear, equipment and bikes, rang up $256 billion worldwide in 2003, marking a 4 percent increase in sales over the previous year, according to Port Washington, N.Y.–based consumer and retail research company NPD Group. Apparel was the fastest-growing and largest category, accounting for 44 percent, or $113 billion, of the global sports market. Sales of sports-related apparel rose 6 percent in 2006 over 2005.
