The Golfalot.com Price Index for October continued the stable trend witnessed in recent months with small falls across the majority of sectors as retailers discount older models with the 2013 releases soon to enter the Index. Despite the falls this month the index is still up over +1% over the last year exhibiting underlying strength despite difficult trading conditions.
The Golf Clubs Sector fell by less than -0.1% as Drivers, Wedges and Utility Clubs recorded small rises that were offset by similarly small falls in the average prices of Fairway Woods, Irons and Putters. So often a headline category Drivers had a quiet month with prices remaining very steady and a growth of +0.1% attributed to price realignment following some discounting in September. The Wedge category recorded the most movement this month with growth of +1.2% as two new wedges from Mizuno, the MPR-12 and the MP-T4 models, entered the Index for the first time. Generally a stable category month to month this latest growth shows the strength in this market with growth of over +5% in the last year. Utility Clubs also welcomed a new entrant in the shape of the Mizuno MP-H4 hybrid club leading to a rise of +0.2%. Fairway Woods (-0.2%), Irons (-0.2%)and Putters (0.2%) all experienced small falls although all still exhibit the stability of the Index as a whole with combined growth of +1.5% since October 2011.
The Golf Accessories Sector experienced a quiet month as small price drops across the majority of brands in all Sectors resulting in a small fall of -0.1%. The largest fall was experienced in the Golf Ball category that was down -0.7% with retailers competing strongly as the competitive golf season draws to a close across the country. Golf Shoes (-0.3%) also fell despite new entrants in the shape of the Biom Gore Tex and Cool III models from Ecco Golf. Golf Bags and Golf Trolleys both fell by less than -0.1% in a quiet month that sees the Golf Accessories Sector as a whole down just 0.2% over the last 12 month period.
A Golfalot spokesman said: Following European success in The Ryder Cup we hope that the optimism of golfers hitting the fairways for some Autumnal golf matches our outlook for the Golfalot.com Price Index in the coming months. With a number of new product releases expected to bolster the rises of the Index in 2012, the golf industry can prepare for 2013 in a spirited mood.
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