Following a high-single-digit decline in Jul. and a high-teens drop in Aug., athletic footwear sales expanded mid-teens in Sep., NPD Group reported, though it attributed much of the difference to this year’s flatter and longer Back-to-School season. Third quarter sneaker sales declined mid-single digits overall, including a slight gain in women’s, which was more than offset by a low-single-digit decline in men’s and a low-teens decline in kids’. By brand, the research company’s data showed Nike improving low-single digits, Jordan declining slightly and Converse falling more than 30%. Adidas dropped high-teens, Reebok was nearly flat, Skechers was down mid-teens, and ... Log in to view full article.