Preliminary figures collected by the European Outdoor Group among more than 100 brands for its annual State of the Trade research project indicate that the European outdoor market grew last year at the wholesale level by 3.4 percent in volume and by 3 percent in value to €5.47 billion. Factoring in Decathlon, which is estimated to represent about 5 percent of the European market, this should correspond to total estimated retail sales of €11.5 billion in 2016. The growth rates were higher overall than in 2015. Yet, surprisingly sales of outdoor shoes fell for the first time in at least five years, declining by 1.0 percent in volume and by 1.7 percent in value at the wholesale level, representing 27 percent of the market with sales of €1.5 billion. Industry officials feel that the drop was only temporary. On the other hand, apparel sales experienced a rebound last year, going up by 6.3 percent in volume and by 4.2 percent in value, representing 51 percent of the outdoor market with a wholesale turnover of €2.8 billion. Sales of outdoor equipment rose by 4.4 percent in volume and by 3.5 percent in value. More in The Outdoor Industry Compass.

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