U.S. Consumers Bought More Running Shoes in the First Half of 2026

August 14, 2026

It might be the summer of the dress shoe revival, but U.S. consumers still prioritized performance footwear in the first half.  That’s according to new data from Circana’s Retail Tracking Service, which showed that running shoes reigned supreme, with both dollar and unit sales increasing a very 13 percent. Cross-training, golf and volleyball shoes also saw sales gains as fitness and wellness continued to drive purchases. Overall, performance footwear generated 6 percent dollar growth for the six-month period, and unit sales also increased.  Overall results weren’t as robust.

All told, the U.S. footwear industry showed first-half dollar growth of 1 percent, mirroring results in the first quarter. Higher average prices drove the small gain, while unit sales declined overall. Tariffs and rising supply chain costs have been steadily pushing up prices for the past several years.  “Consumers remain highly intentional about their footwear purchases,” said Beth Goldstein, footwear and accessories industry advisor at Circana. “The biggest growth stories in the first half came from categories that blend comfort, versatility, and performance.  yahoo!finance