Media Coverage
RetailBiz; November 11, 2026
Retailers selling sporting goods, footwear, apparel, toys and outdoor recreation equipment are facing an increasingly affordability-conscious market, with millions of Australians unable to purchase even basic items needed for sport, leisure and hobbies.
New research from Good360 Australia has found that 48 per cent of Australians – more than 13 million people – have gone without, delayed replacing or been unable to afford sporting and play essentials in the past 12 months.
The findings highlight how cost-of-living pressures are influencing discretionary retail spending, with households increasingly prioritising food, fuel, utilities and other essentials over sporting equipment, clothing and recreational products.
Good360’s Play Poverty in Australia 2026 report found sports shoes, boots and trainers were the most commonly forgone purchases, affecting 19 per cent of Australians. Sports clothing and uniforms followed at 16 per cent, while outdoor recreation equipment and bikes, scooters and skateboards each accounted for 13 per cent. A further 11 per cent had gone without swimwear and goggles.
Read the full article over at RetailBiz.
