High School Sports Protective Equipment Survey |
|
NSGA recently released its first High School Sports Protective Equipment Survey. The report surveyed high school coaches and athletic directors responsible for the purchase and replacement of protective equipment used by sports teams at their schools. See below for some of the key findings:
Sports surveyed:
Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, Boys Football, Boys and Girls Hockey, Boys and Girls Lacrosse
Highlights:
- About half of the schools have experienced a reduction in their budget for protective equipment over the past three years. Fundraising has been the key tactic to compensate for budget reductions.
- For baseball, softball, and football, most protective equipment is purchased by the school. However, for ice hockey and lacrosse, parents purchase a greater share of the equipment. In fact, nearly 4 in 10 schools reported an increase in parent involvement of purchases for ice hockey equipment.
- Protective equipment is often replaced within three years, however, football is an exception with nearly half of schools replacing helmets and shoulder pads every five years or less often.
- When schools purchase protective equipment, they generally buy from the team dealer. About 70% of schools indicated that a team dealer rep had visited within the past six months.
- Most respondents check prices before making protective equipment purchases; they are more likely to do so at other outlets/with other reps than online.
This report is available to members at no cost. For non-members, to purchase a copy please visit www.nsga.org/research.
|
September CPI for Sporting Goods Flat |
The CPI for Sporting Goods was flat in September (0.0% change. vs. September 2011). This represents the first time since October 2009 that the CPI for Sporting Goods has not declined vs. the prior year.
For 2011, the CPI for Sporting Goods averaged a 4.7% decrease, following a 3.0% average decrease in 2010. 2011 was the second year in a row that Sporting Goods CPI had shown a decrease. It increased 2.1% in 2009.
In the past five years (2011 versus 2006), the average CPI for Sporting Goods has declined 1.2% in the face of a 3.0% rise in the average CPI for All Items.
|
Sporting Goods Stores Sales (U.S. Census Bureau) |
Sporting goods store sales increased 6.1% in August according to the most recent Monthly Retail Trade Survey prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau. This brings the year-to-date sales increase to 5.2% vs. a year ago through August.
Sales for 2011 were $40.9 billion, up 1.7% for the year. That compares to the 6.6% increase in 2010 when sales were $40.2 billion.
|
