Running Shoes Continue to Drive Sales in Q1 Despite Overall Footwear Slowdown
Running shoes continued to dominate in the first quarter of 2025 despite an overall slowdown of sales in the period.
According to new data from Circana’s Consumer Tracking Service, sport lifestyle, or athleisure sneakers, remained the largest footwear segment and grew almost 1 percent overall for the quarter. Running shoe sales grew 7 percent in Q1 and generated the most incremental dollar growth versus last year.
Overall, Circana noted that the performance category outperformed the total market, with dollar sales up 4 percent. In addition to running, walking sneakers were strong, as well, growing double-digits based on both dollar and unit sales.
On the flip side, the fashion shoe category continued to slide, with sales dropping 9 percent in Q1. However, Circana said that growth within fashion stemmed from some smaller segments such as high shaft boots, flats, and ballerina. In addition, boat shoes grew for the first time in about 10 years, driven by new fashion interpretations in women’s. Slipper sales also increased by 10 percent.
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These numbers come as Circana found that U.S. footwear industry sales totaled $19.3 billion, a decline of 4 percent versus the same period last year.
Beth Goldstein, footwear and accessories advisor at Circana, said in a statement that while shoe sales slowed in Q1, demand remained strong for certain product categories, including running and sport lifestyle, as well as select fashion styles that provide comfort and versatility.
“The upcoming months are likely to test the limits of consumers’ wallets, but these results are an indicator of the types of footwear that consumers will continue to prioritize,” Goldstein said.
This new data comes one day after AlixPartners revealed a whopping number of shoppers who are walking away from footwear purchases due to high costs. “Price is top of mind for consumers shopping for shoes, with 78 percent saying they have walked away from a shoe purchase due to cost, up 12 percentage points from last year,” the report’s authors said.
Shoppers in the survey said they are planning to reduce their spending on all shoe categories this year: shoes/boots (down 29 percent); fashion/dress footwear (down 26 percent); athleisure/multiactivity shoes (17 percent); and casual shoes (down 16 percent).
“Some 43 percent of survey respondents expect to spend no money at all on work shoes, indicating consumers plan to cut back on core purchases by trying to extend the life of footwear they already have,” the AlixPartners report stated.
