Domestic sales of athletic footwear fell 6% during 1998, marking the first year-to-year drop in the industry since 1994, according to NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm. The stall was most noticeable during the third quarter, when back-to-school sales plummeted by 20%.
"After a disappointing third quarter, flat holiday sales helped to minimize industry losses," said Dianne Miller, who tracks shoe sales for NPD. "Improvement can be expected in 1999 as discounted inventory from 1998 should be lessened."
