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NPD: Delayed, Virtual Back-To-School Hurt July Athletic Footwear Sales

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Back-to-School issues and the end of pandemic unemployment assistance checks both negatively impacted athletic footwear sales last month, typically a key period for the industry. Total July U.S. footwear sales declined 16 percent year-over-year, according to The NPD Group/U.S. Retail Tracking Service, with fashion footwear sales sliding 35 percent in July.

There were a few bright spots in the month, according to Beth Goldstein, the research group’s fashion footwear and accessories analyst. Sales of Crocs, slippers and sport slides remained strong in July and the hiking footwear category realized an uptick.