During the first quarter of this year, the consumption of sporting goods in Norway increased by 5.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2011. The positive result, which parallels a similar pattern observed in Sweden, indicates that the industry is on the path to recovery after a slight sales dip of 0.2 percent in 2011. During the first three months of this year, sporting goods retailers' sales totaled 2.6 billion Norwegian crowns (€345.6m-$428.6m), compared with NOK 2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2010 and NOK 2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2011. A reason for the sales increase may have been the early start of the spring season in Norway and early sales of cycling products, combined with respectable sales of cross-country skis in spite of a relatively short winter season.

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