It was a case of putting your best foot forward in April’s Golfalot.com Price Index as the Shoe Category drove an overall increase of 1.2% and helped the Index record its highest average price for a complete equipment set since May 2006.
It was the arrival of a number of new models that powered growth of 5.8% in the Shoes Category and helped the Acessories Sector rise by 1.8%. The top end of the shoe market saw new FootJoy models including the 2010 AQL and Contour series make their debuts while Hi-Tec also pitched in with the arrival of two new CDT models, the Custom Comfort Wpi and the Pure Speed Wpi.
In a month of growth across the Accessories Sector the Golf Balls Category posted a jump of 2.8% to record the highest average price since July 2009. The reversal of recent reductions across both the Srixon and Pinnacle ranges allowed the Category to more than recover from last month’s small drop.
Elsewhere in the Sector, stability and consolidation were the themes as the Golf Bags Category rose by 0.5% and the Trolleys Category by 1%. This marks a third successive month of growth for the Golf Bags Category after it suffered a big drop in the January sales period and the average price of a golf bag has reached its highest level since the Golfalot.com Price Index began back in October 2004.
There was less movement in the Golf Clubs Sector where growth of 1% included the only fall of the month as the Fairway Woods Category dropped by 1%. That slight drop does bring good news for consumers however as it was sparked by reductions to the Cleveland Launcher and Callaway Diablo Edge and Diablo Edge Tour.
For the other Golf Club categories this month was all about building on the recent trend of solid performances. Utility Clubs led the way with growth of 2.5% to continue on the road to recovery after a fall of 4.5% in February. The Wedge Category posted a rise of 2.4% to reach its highest average price since February 2009 and a fourth successive month of growth in 2010.
Putters grew by 1.5% and continue to climb back from the large falls that affected the category in January and February. The Irons Category saw a rise of 1% as a number of reduced prices on sets including the Ping i15 and Titleist AP2 fell out of the Index. The Drivers Category posted a modest rise of 0.8% and remains one of the most consistent categories of 2010.
With Easter now over, and with the last of the foul weather hopefully going with it, golfers can now look forward to the season getting properly underway. The Golfalot.com Price Index has shown remarkable resilience so far in 2010 and has coped admirably with the challenges of continuing financial uncertainty and the winter weather.
With April bringing yet another month of overall growth there is good reason for optimism as the Golfalot.com Price Index stretches into the golfing summer of 2010.
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