The business tracked and reported by OIA VantagePoint has expanded with the release of a new version that now includes projections for the Running Specialty, Big Box Outdoor and Action Sports Specialty retail channels.  In addition, there has been a significant expansion of categories now available OIA VantagePoint.  

Sales of Outdoor Apparel (which includes Accessories) increased 10.9 percent to $161.1 million. Despite the warm weather, Outdoor Outerwear remained the largest overall category, adding to its share by posting strong double-digit growth.  Outerwear grew solidly across most channels for the month. 

After posting a mid-single-digit decline in April, Outdoor Hardgoods saw a reversal of fortune as sales grew 7.7 percent to $408.0 million in May. Most major categories posted solid double-digit gains for the month as sales surged in the lead-up to the Memorial Day holiday. 

Outdoor Footwear sales increased 7.1 percent to $242.7 million led by increases in Technical Hiking, Outdoor Multi-Sport and Outdoor Casual Footwear. The Barefoot Footwear business continued its slide, posting a 14.0 percent decline for the month on weakness in the Functional Outdoor Footwear segment.  The category returned to growth in Running and saw large gains in Outdoor Casual and Fitness/Training Footwear. 

Looking ahead, the strong lead-in to the Memorial Day holiday may bode well for the month of June and the lead-up to the Fourth of July holiday week.  With the holiday falling in the middle of the first week of July, more consumers are expected to take a full week holiday instead a three- or four-day respite.  These longer vacations may increase sales of core outdoor product, buffering outdoor product sales from widespread economic concerns.

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)