Circana’s Consumer Tracking Service shows that the athleisure category generated $31 billion in sales and was the number one segment
US footwear industry sales totaled $89.2 billion, showing a flat performance compared to 2023, according to Circana’s Consumer Tracking Service. The athleisure category generated $31 billion in sales and was the number one footwear segment in terms of both dollar sales and incremental dollar volume growth, increasing by more than three percent versus 2023, driven by the popularity of running, soccer, and training-inspired sneakers, Circana said.
Meanwhile, performance running sales grew by more than six percent to $7.4 billion, driven by a mix shift to more premium, higher-priced products. The fashion category declined by three percent, but bright spots included women’s seasonless shoe silhouettes such as flats, ballerinas, and pumps, as well as slippers, which performed especially well during the back-to-school and holiday months.
SGI Europe’s analysis on the top sporting goods performers shows that these 45 companies improved their aggregate profitability by more than 19 percent to more than €4.13 billion in Q3 2024.
Footwear sales in the US in the fourth quarter were similar to the full-year trend. A bright spot, though: sales increased by more than three percent versus 2023 during the core holiday time frame from Black Friday week through the end of the year, according to Circana data. It was driven by strong demand for the most popular footwear brands and items, and the consumers’ willingness to pay close to full price for them.
“Value and versatility will again be the name of the game in the year ahead,” states Beth Goldstein, footwear and accessories analyst at Circana. “Economic uncertainties will continue to weigh on consumers and impact their spending behaviors, making it likely that footwear industry sales will remain soft overall in 2025. However, we have seen several growth areas, from higher-priced performance footwear to retro product, so brands and manufacturers will need to manage their supply and demand here and focus on innovation in these hot areas of the market,” Goldstein concluded.
