What the Latest Numbers Reveal About a Cooling Market

Outdoor product sales in Athletic Specialty and Sporting Goods (ASSG) retail channels opened 2026 in a precarious position—and the signals are worth a close look. Dollar sales held nearly flat, declining less than 1%, but unit sales fell sharply, down 7.3% across every product category. At the same time, average retail prices climbed 6.7% year-over-year, outpacing the broader inflation rate of roughly 3.3%. With consumer sentiment at decade lows and middle- and lower-income households cutting back on discretionary spending, understanding which products are still moving and which are cooling fast has never been more important.
OIA’s Q1 2026 Outdoor Retail Trends Report is now available. It covers category-level dollar and unit sales performance across ASSG retail, standout performers in equipment, accessories, and footwear, and the categories seeing the sharpest declines—from women’s basketball-inspired shoes to portable fire pits and insulated tumblers. Check out the Executive Summary for the key findings and market implications.

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