ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 25, 2020
Over the summer, people looking to get out of the house snapped up boats, bicycles and patio furniture, figuring they were safer socializing and being active outdoors than inside. Now that temperatures are dropping, they’re buying snowshoes, skis, boots and winter coats, boosting the beleaguered retail sector. For outdoor gear, cross-country skiing equipment was up 202 percent and snowshoes were up 221 percent from August to October.